[nursechick]

How does one go about contacting a union to talk about a union for Texas nurses? I know they were given the opportunity many years ago and did not follow through, but times have changed. Nurse in Texas need representation.

A.K.

[mattsmom]

We could never get enough votes to get the unions in. Texas nurses are a combination of fearful, apathetic, and uninformed when it comes to unions. I am soooo glad to be out of there and back in a union area!!

One risks professional suicide by even bringing up the u-word there.

[AnkhRNMSNphoenix]

Just remember that any thing worth having is going to be a struggle and I wish you all the luck. The first thing you must do is talk to a representative from unions that specialize in representing nurses and only NURSES. The two that I know of are the National Nurses Organizing Committee (Go the website) and the American Nurses Association (Go to website) The American Nurses Association has the longer history but we in chicago found them getting lazy and resting on their laurels. I think it's easy to do so when you have had such a long wonderful history defending nurses, so we nurses at cook county broke off our relations with the Illinois Branch of the ANA and joined the California Nurses in forming this newer hungrier organization that is NNOC. The California Nurses Association after decertifying from ANA now have some of the best contracts in the United States. Do your research and understand your labor laws because employers may threaten your job or try their best to disuade you from getting representation.Rule number one of any union:Strength in numbers. Once you make the decision as to who you will choose to represent you, dedicate yourself with all the dedication you would give to a patient whos' very life rested in your hands. Don't let the idea of fair representation die. Hospitals are hiring companies who are paid thousands of dollars to union bust but with todays shortage RNs have all the power.

[Ladyoftherose]

I am new in here and all , But I think that there needs to be a Nurses Union for Nurses and the Nurses Aides as well .
The reasons that I say the Nurses Aides too , is because without us the Nurses wouldn't know what is happening with the Patiences or the residents in the Nursing Centers or in the Hospitals ...... We the Nurses Aides or the eyes and the ears behind the Nurses all across the world and we should get the same respect as the R.N.'s and L.V.N's and L.P.N.'s do not the pay but at least a better pay than what they are paying us now .....
You just can't make it on $6.20 an hour and especaillywhen I drive 33 miles to go to work in Texas as an Certified Nurses Aide .
I hope that I don't make anyone mad but this is how I feel about it and if I was asked to join a UNION I sure would in a heart beat.
That my opinion and I hope that there is someone else out there that feels the sameway I do too.
Thats all I have to say on it ......
We have the right to equal or better pay as the others do because we do alot more than some of them do .
Thanks
Ladyoftherose

[jenalberta]

To LadyoftheRose: I an a Registered Nurse. I wholeheartedly agree with you that being paid $6.20 an hour is an insult to the important care you give. However, I disagree with your statement that aides are the eyes and ears behind the nurses, and the statement that nurses wouldn't know what was going on with their patients without the aides. We are professionals, with professional training. We haveto know what is going on with our patients, and are legally held accountable. I value the assistance aides bring to the team. They allow the nurses to perform nursing assessments and give nursing care. But to pay the aides $6.20 an hour is disgraceful. If the powers at be who make the wage decisions, had an aide cleaning up after their mother's bowel incontinence, so they didn't have to, really believed that job is worth only $6.20 an hour, then let them receive $6.20 an hour for it. Their minds of the aides value would change quickly I think. There is a hierarchy in nursing, and salary needs to reflect that, as accountability and responsibilty follow the same hierarchy. Good luck with the union representation. I can't imagine working without Union support in Canada.

Jen

[Ladyoftherose]

Jen.
I have been A Certified Nurses Aide for 20 years now and I know that without us the Nurses wouldn't know alot that goes on with the patients that are in the Hospital's or Nursing Homes,(Centers), because we let you R.N's and L.V.N's know what is going on with them .... I live here in Texas and I have worked with alot of the R.N's and L.V.N.'s and they have said over the years that if it wasn't for us the C.N.A.'s that they wouldn't know how to go about treating them or helping them as far as that goes..... I don't know how it works there in Canada but I know how it goes here in Texas and it goes like this ......The C.N.A.'s are the eyes and ears as to what is wrong with the patients and we are suppose to be each others supporters but that stops when you become an R.N. or and L.V.N. here because we as Aides do not get the same Respect as the R.N.'s and L.V.N.'s do because we don't rank that high ..... Especailly when you have someone that is not willing to backup her C.N.A.'s like she does the R.N.'s and L.V.N.'s and too the D.O.N. is willing to let her R.N.'s and L.V.N.'s treat the Graveyard C.N.A.'s like dirt and run them off ..... Listen I think that we deserve to be paid alot more than $6.20 an hour and I think that we should have to same RESPECT as the other Nursing Staff does ..... We aren't dogs and we have feelings and we do care about the patients in the hospital's and the Nursing Homes (Centers), too . But I know for afact that we don't get it .... I think that the 90 probation period needs to be thrown out the window and I think that we should get on call pay and it should start from the time that we get the call till we get off too and I think that it should be different from the regular pay that we should get too and I think that we should get mileage too if we get called in on our days off.
Listen I am not trying to run down all Nurses , I have worked with some that isn't afraid to get out and help the C.N.A.'s on the floor and do what they do either but there are some that thinks that just because that they are now R.N.'s and L.V.N.'s that they are better than we are and they aren't .
Thats all I have to say on the subject of this matter.
You can reply to this message if you want too , but that is how I feel and I know some of the others that are C.N.A.'s feel the same way too ..... The D.O.N. shouldn't have her favorites either where I work at but she does and that isn't right either , you shouldn't treat one different than the other.
Ladyoftherose

[jenalberta]

Ladyof therose:

Oops, sorry if I struck a nerve. You obviously feel very strongly about your situation there, and the lack of respect you are receiving. Good for you to speak out. The situation here in Canada is so very different. We really value ALL of our team members. I may have been an RN for over 25 years, but I have certainly learned a lot from Aides. You are usually the front line workers, and the information you pass along to the RN in charge is undeniable useful, in fact critical in the continuity and accuracy of care the patient receives. I can only speak for myself in saying that I value the Aides very much, and treat them with respect. No one deserves to be treated "like dogs" or deal with favouritism. That's where a Union can really help. They do not allow that to happen. But it sounds as if Canada is way ahead of Texas in that regard. No wonder Texas tries to recruit nurses from Canada so hard. They probably get a surprise though, when we go to bat for our teammates - that means you!

Good luck with your situation. You will always be made welcome in Canada! Keep in touch. I would be interested to learn what happens with contacting the union there.

Jen

[Ladyoftherose]

Jen,
Yes you did, but that is alright though. I really want the Union here and I would love to join one, because its like you said they would put a stop to all that favoritetisim that is going on where I work at.... I just want the respect and the right pay for the right job that I am doing .... I hope that I don't make you mad but it just makes me upset to know that our state, the state of Texas is still trying for Slavery and it makes me upset that the work place is the one that is doing it so much here ... I like being an C.N.A. but I have dreams of going back to school and getting my degree in Nursing and becoming a Loving , Caring , and Understanding Nurse that I am..... I also know that it takes lots of patients and all and I am willing to go that extra mile to do what it takes to take care of my patients and therefore I need alot of help from someone that I can trust and depend on , and that is why I think that there should be a Nurses Union in Texas so badly if not for the Nurses then then for the C.N.A.'s because we deserve it too.
I don't know who to talk to about getting one started here and I have been looking for years now and if you know who I need to speak with please e-mail me privately and let me know please because I am so very interested in starting one .
I look forward in the up coming days in hearing from you and letting me know what I need to know ..... And again its good to know that I have someone out there on my side for a change .....Thanks
Ladyoftherose

[jenalberta]

LadyoftheRose: I apologize if in my effort to support you, I offended you. ALL team members need to be treated fairly and with respect. Because I live and work in Canada, any information I have is about Canadian Unions. However, in saying that, you could email the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) for information. They would have contacts in the US and most likely be knowledgable in sending you off in the right direction. Good Luck.

Jen

[Ladyoftherose]

Jen,
Please do not apoloize for something that you are doing for me .... I thank you so very much for your support .... I do want you to know that I really wish that I could come to Canada and work there but I just don't think that I could right at this very moment...... I am so greatful that someone thinks that the Nurses Aides should be treated as equally.
I also want you to know that I am so greatful that I have someone on my side as far as the pay goes as well too .....
I will keep looking for someone that can help me with the information that I am wanting and I will keep in touch with you on and about it ...
Please keep up the good work ..... Being a Nurse Is My Goal and I am excited about it too. and nothing is going to stop me from it either ,
Laters
Ladyoftherose