[mako2004]

I am just wondering how many nurses are unionized.
I am a member of NFFE (National Federation of Federal Employees).
I firmly believe that nurses need to be unionized. There are far too many nurses who work for a facility for 20 or 30 years only to find they have little in the way of retirement or health benefits.

[BigRedNurse]

Ok, I'll answer. I belong to the UFCW in Sioux City, IA; I am trying to make us stronger with my voice. We need to stick together and be heard, instead of just complaining to one another about the way things are. Negotiations for our new contract begin in November; our current contract expires in July 2007. Wages in general are not very high here, and I believe that we need a union to get more in line with the rest of the country, cost of living elsewhere excluded, of course.

[ARCK]

SEIU in Detroit, Michigan. I'm a member of the negotiating team. When I worked in non-union hospitals and offices, management always treated the nursing staff with disdain and careless disregard. We were practically invisible. The only way to change that is through solidarity.

[BigRedNurse]

Originally Posted by ARCK

SEIU in Detroit, Michigan. I'm a member of the negotiating team. When I worked in non-union hospitals and offices, management always treated the nursing staff with disdain and careless disregard. We were practically invisible. The only way to change that is through solidarity.

Maybe a little off-subject here, but I was talking to my daughter recently (a surgery BSN) who told me how important it is for nurses to UNITE, both in the workplace and unions. Here's how she explained it. Physicians have their own groups and are very powerful; get new legislation passed, etc. Nurses much higher in numbers and necessary. The country could NOT do without us. If we stopped bickering about one another and actually stood together, we would be unstoppable. I completely agree. Do you think it's POSSIBLE that we could actually band TOGETHER, work as a TEAM, and get something really worthwhile done? It only takes one person, one voice at a time. I'm more than willing, and have been working on this since I began nursing. How many of you are willing to put yourselves on the line and stand together, for the good of us all? It doesn't have to be anything radical. Maybe something as small as questioning bad policies where you work. It's a start.

[ARCK]

Not off topic at all.... I can't agree with your daughter any more and in addition to her points, let's face it, nursing is a female dominated industry and as such have historically been relegated to low pay and disrespect. So far, the only vehicle to change that is being members of a labor union - either forming your own or joining an existing one and getting certified. We can't simply SAY we'll hang together because we're basically at-will employees. We work at the will of our employers on an individual basis. If one person protests a policy or formally complains about working conditions, there's a good chance the employer may say, "We don't perceive a good attitude here and that's counter to our mission of excellent patient care." and she's GONE. Then guaranteed, no one is going to put their neck on the line and be the next one to protest. If anyone is interested in becoming unionized, start by calling any Local Union office in your area and let them show you and your coworkers what they have to offer. Call several and let them sell themselves to you. I know of one hospital where the nursing staff is represented by the Teamsters! Even the trash pick-up employees are unionized and they make substantially more than the average nurse plus vacation, sick/personal time, healthcare, and retirement benefits. Why not nurses? We deserve better than what we've been given and don't think for a second that your employer or anyone is going to suddenly recognize the injustice and fix it FOR us.

You raised a very perceptive daughter!

[BigRedNurse]

Thanks, ARCK, my kids are the pride of my life. Back to the subject; you have raised valid points. Yes, I work in an at-will hospital, but am covered by a union contract. I realize that I have to be careful in the way that I approach the aforementioned problems. Fortunately, most of the ICU nurses are as concerned as I am. Speaking of Teamsters, I have been a member of that group and would be THRILLED to be represented by them once more. Baby steps.

[mared]

To answer the original poster of this thread, California Nurses Assn. RNs that belong to unions, 34% in Calif. Nation wide, RNs 20% + http://www.calnurses.org