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Thread: would union have helped with this?

  1. #1

    would union have helped with this?

    I work in NC currently,

    Not long ago the hospital system i work for made a drastic change to its weekender policy.

    Previously we only had to work Sat and Sun 12hr shifts and we would get paid for 36. Worked out to roughly making time and 1/2 for the hours we worked. I myself picked up Friday nights along with it (my choice to do) so i was making really good money with that system.

    Now, since they changed us around, we had the choice to stay on Sat and Sun and lose the extra hours we got paid for. Or goto a "full time weekender" status and pick up a 3rd 12 shift during the week, and only get paid an extra 5 1/2 hours extra.

    I just got my first pay check under this new system and as expected, it was around 400$ less then i was making.

    The word Union got thrown around at the place i work and we were quickly told by our manager that the hospital system "would not allow a nure union and would not allow the attempt to form one"


    I have never worked for a nursing union but i cant help to think that if we had had one in place, this may not have happen.

    I can tell you since this change we have lost 4 good nurses from our department alone and we just found out that now, the people who work during the weekdays, will now have to pick up a weekend shift every 4 weeks. Wich most of us saw comming.

    In this area, there are NO nursing unions to be heard of. Would having one have helped up in this situation?

  2. #2
    Super Moderator cougarnurse's Avatar
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    Re: would union have helped with this?

    I have done alot of agency over the past 20 + years, and the 'norm' is working every other weekend, though one place had staf working 2 weekends on, one off. Where I am now, it's every other weekend.

    The job before this one, LPN's and CNA's are Union. It didn't really help too much, as the owner dragged butt on the contract for over 2 years. Guess what got ratified 1 1/2 months before I took my RN boards?!

  3. #3
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    Red face Re: would union have helped with this?

    Union influence in the workplace is only as good as the union leaders and their efforts to bring about positive changes for their membership. Although we all know that the union and management types eat from the same pot, a good union will get good policies in place for their workers and insure their own continued existence. Getting and keeping a union is a difficult move in the beginning. Your colleagues voted with their feet. Those are the employees that should be pushing for a union if one is going to gain hold. When dissatisfied people leave, the only ones left are those that tend to be more complacent. We all know what complacency brings.

  4. #4
    Junior Member
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    Re: would union have helped with this?

    Having a union attempt at our workplace divided our staff, brought morale to it's lowest in 15+ years, and ruined long time friendships. The union never made it in, the one's unhappy left, and we are stronger than ever.

  5. #5

    Re: would union have helped with this?

    Union influence in the workplace is only as good as the union leaders and their efforts to bring about positive changes for their membership.

    Short Breaks UK

  6. #6
    millard52english
    Guest
    The union must be forced on at some point......

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