It is a healthcare profession and no one can deny the significance of this profession in controlling the health issues. 3. Positive statements about the role of nursing unions concerned providing support to Strikes are extremely costly. However, it’s difficult to prove that these are the reasons for their … An administrator testified that the union made it difficult to reprimand or terminate Wettlaufer for various incidents of misconduct. There are intangible aspects which unions cannot provide resolution by collective bargaining such as allowing nurses to speak their mind, having reasonable and fair assignments, etc. Let’s think about what it means when nurses strike and there is no one available to work in a medical facility. Nursing unions require regular dues. Currently, about 21% of nurses in the US belong to a union. They find that hospitals with a successful union election outperform hospitals with a failed election in 12 of 13 potentially nurse-sensitive patient outcomes. Read on to learn more. 4. There is this notion that because nurses are caregivers, they should be willing to give of their time without any consideration of their livelihood. Patient Positioning: Complete Guide for Nurses, Registered Nurse Career Guide: How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN), NCLEX Questions Nursing Test Bank and Review, Nursing Care Plans (NCP): Ultimate Guide and Database, Nursing Diagnosis Guide: All You Need to Know to Master Diagnosing. Today it is the largest union for nursing staff in the world, while still undertaking the professional development activities of a professional organization. And these issues can be related directly to current developments in the health care industry, including budget cuts and ever-increasing focus on profits. It puts the focus on care instead of just profit. Explain at least five such issues. Any coercion tactics, on either side, to influence employees to vote one way or another are illegal. A good example of this became evident during the hearing of Elizabeth Wettlaufer’s serial killings of patients in long-term care homes. The idea of nurses striking is not something many people in the general public support. If replacements are found, it generally means that less skilled providers are coming in so care is provided. Union Fees: Most unions charge a percentage of the nurse’s salary as “union dues” for their representations, which is the reason why most employees would rather remain non-unionized. A., Spetz, J., Ash, M., Herrera, C. N., & Keane, D. (2011). In the US today, employees can only get union representation if the employer voluntarily recognizes the union or when the majority of employees vote for unionization. This passion, together with interest in health and wellness education since her student days, stayed with her throughout her further career as a nurse educator and occupational health nurse. While many advocates tout the benefits of unions, there are some disadvantages to consider. At the time a commentator in The Irish Times, while acknowledging that nurses needed a better deal, wrote that nurses “were about to ‘cheapen the magnificent repute this profession has won for itself” and compared a strike of nurses to a strike of wives.”. 50+ Tips & Techniques on IV... IV Fluids and Solutions Guide & Cheat Sheet (2020 Update), Cranial Nerves Assessment Chart and Cheat Sheet, Diabetes Mellitus Reviewer and NCLEX Questions (100 Items), Drug Dosage Calculations NCLEX Practice Questions (100+ Items), Higgins, Christina, “Nursing Education: Unions and their Place in the Curriculum” (2016). Initially, it didn’t support strikes by nurses but this provision was changed in 1995, allowing for industrial action as long as it did not harm patients. In the United States, there is a debate going on about the viability and usefulness of unions in the work place right now. 6. too corrupt. According to The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (1), nurses commonly use unions to address issues such as: The Registered Nurses' Union of N.L. The pros and cons of a nursing union must be carefully weighed before a group decides to unionize or continue on with their union. This has been known to cause disagreements and conflict even among colleagues in the workplace. However, nurses everywhere are still divided on the question of whether abandoning their patients in the event of a strike is compatible with the ethics and standards of their profession. One of the professions that is strongly considering the advantages and disadvantages of a union is the nursing field. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but exceptions shouldn’t be the foundation of an overall perception of the industry at large. In the other states, persons working at unionized facilities have to be paying members of the union – whether they want to or not. Today NNU is the largest nursing union in the US, although there are many different unions representing nurses in this country. To answer this question you should arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible and then, within your own frame of reference, weigh up whether joining a union is in line with your personal and professional values. Today most companies accept that it is in their own interests to provide fair conditions of service for their employees. This website is an independent research project of mine. When the nurses at QMC went on strike in Boston, they still didn’t get their contract updates that they wanted. Unions can create higher labor costs and can make it harder to fire bad employees. You should also consider the practical costs and benefits of joining a union and investigate what different unions have to offer. You will always find a few nurses taking advantage of the unionized structure. Furthermore, union tactics were viewed as being in conflict with the values of nursing. The downside is that it could limit the possibilities of advancement on the grounds of excellent performance if you are not the most senior person in line for a promotion. Master of Arts/Science in Nursing Scholarly Projects. to union support, nurses spoke of the adversarial nature of labour relations, the increasing numbers of grievances, the lengthy processing time, the budget constraints and the need to educate nurses about union matters. A nursing union can help to put the focus back onto care because skilled care provides a better chance for a 100% recovery. Other nurses believe that collective bargaining through unionization is the only way to address current issues in nursing, such as staff shortages, and their effect on the care which nurses can provide to their patients. Nurses in a union environment can expect that every facet of their work conditions will be run through the union. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions commissioned Environics Research to conduct a national public opinion poll to determine attitudes towards national health care and prescription drug coverage issues. Employers can experience conflicts of interest with a Nursing Union. Furthermore, over the past few years, we have witnessed an increased number of strikes by nurses across the world. Recommended references and journal articles about nurse unions: Nurseslabs.com is an education and nursing lifestyle website geared towards helping student nurses and registered nurses with knowledge for the progression and empowerment of their nursing careers. What are the common labor union issues for nursing staff in an acute care organization? J Prof Nurs. Clashes between workers and management often became violent and over time governments stepped in to regulate worker’s rights. If the union votes to strike, then you as a member must strike and will lose pay for every day the strike goes on. Initially, the ANA had a no-strike policy, but it was removed in 1968. Professionalism versus unionization of nurses is often posited as a dichotomy of mutually exclusive choices. The current weakness we see, where some will attempt to attack other unions to point-score, or others will work with conservative MPs even though they have consistently shown that they are opposed to nursing, is because we are not active within our movement. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) was founded in 1919 as the first trade union for hospital nurses in the world and is celebrating its centenary this year. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 10.5% of workers belonged to unions in 2018, down from 20.1% in 1983. Labor unions also present challenges for HR management in nonunion work environments. As a result, union membership has been dropping steadily. While in the United States, union membership is shrinking in most sectors, the number of nurses joining unions or organizing to form unions is increasing. 1. Job Risks: Some employers do everything in their power to dismiss an employee for joining or trying to organize a union, which is illegal. Employers cannot easily terminate the employment of a union nurse whose performance falls below standard, as there must be consultation with the union, which off… [, Seago, J. Workers realized that they needed to stand together and speak with one voice – bargain collectively – to confront management and to improve their wages and working conditions. The medical provider simply brought in replacement workers for the strike and the nurses wound up having to go back to work without the contract that they wanted. This goes against the nursing code of conduct to never walk out on a patient in need. They may have also outlived their usefulness, especially in the health care industry. In 1999 the ANA formed United American Nurses (UAN) to separate union activity from its professional development functions. Nurses in the US are increasingly organizing to form unions in response to the negative impact which the for-profit health care system in the US is having on patient care. Offering options without union rigidity keeps the system as fluid as our patients' problems. 4. Besides regulating the recognition of unions by management, the legislation also spells out the processes which must be followed in collective bargaining. There are even unionized nurses in parts of Texas, Georgia, Florida & other states in the South. You will then be in a position to make an informed personal choice on whether you want to join a union or not and/or are prepared to accept a job at a facility where you have to join.Â. And in a 2004 study of California hospitals, researchers found that hospitals with nurses unions had a 5.5 percent lower mortality rate from heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues, he … Many nurses see unions, and what they stand for, as unprofessional and against their ethical code. 2841 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7 Telephone: 613-526-4661 Toll Free: 1-800-321-9821 Fax: 613-526-1023 For media inquiries, please contact media@nursesunions.ca or contact Ben René, communications officer, at: 613-406-5962. Hospital RN job satisfaction and nurse unions.Â. (You may select another setting of interest to you.) 1997 Mar-Apr;13(2):99-109. As a result, there has also been a significant shift in the attitudes of nursing organizations towards unionization and collective bargaining. In 1999 the International Council of Nurses (ICN) adopted a policy statement on industrial action by nurses. You must meet these challenges with a spirit of cooperation rather than opposition to prevent minor discontent from mushrooming into a strike or worse. In the meantime, all of the supporting resources that help to provide them with a paycheck are looking at ways to lessen how much money today’s nurses get paid because of this perspective. The drive for unionization in the last century came at a time when nursing organizations across the world were advocating for recognition of nursing as a profession. Under labor law, the voting process is monitored and conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. In the US, the National Labor Relations Act, providing for workers’ right to unionize, was passed in 1935. A total of 1,002 Canadians completed the online survey, which was conducted between January 9 and 21, 2019. Union guidelines are a hindrance when tailoring work schedules to the ever-changing desires and needs of a nursing staff and the ability to cover all shifts to adequately provide patient care. During a negotiation in Boston where a nursing union when on strike at Quincy Medical Center, the health care provider’s president said this. A., & Ash, M. (2002). It means that patients aren’t going to receive the care they need for a recovery. 7. the people who want a union really need one. Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. Joining a union has professional, ethical, personal and financial implications and every nurse should be able to make their own informed decision. Compared to strikes in other sectors, recent strikes by nurses have not been primarily about improved salaries. On the flipside, unions can be useful in development / implementation of things like ratio laws, which DO protect the patients AND nurses. Nurse Unions Pros and Cons: Should You Join? Industrial action should, however, only be used as a last resort and the general public must always be provided with essential services. This can, however, draw out and complicate minor clashes as the union has to mediate in every incident. However, nurses in your facility can bring their concerns up to management, and often, positive change can be facilitated through communication and teamwork unrelated to unions. It realized that its members needed support with issues around wages, working hours and conditions of employment – and they also wanted to prevent nurses from joining unions. They can only negotiate things like pay, benefits, job security and nurse-patient ratios. Unions have helped to build the United States and the world into a thriving place where success can be found. Nursing and Unions Section Nursing and Unions Nursing is a commendable profession because the people who adopt his profession take care of health and lives of people without considering their own rest and comfort timings. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) was established in 1981 to facilitate interaction among nursing unions in Canada and provide a united front on issues which affect unionized Registered Nurses and the quality of health care. Protests and strikes in defiance of such measures would lead to a waste of a time. A nursing union counters this disinformation attempt. Although there are right to work states that don’t require employees to pay union dues to receive union benefits, there are still many that do have this requirement. (iStock) There are roughly 6,000 RNs in the province. With increased industrialization in the early 1900s, and business owners only interested in profits, there was extreme exploitation and often inhumane treatment of the labor force. A union is only powerful if its members are active. You can definitely … They have focused mostly on issues that affect safe patient care – for example, staff shortages, nurse-patient ratios, and compulsory overtime. “In today’s economy, nurses who are sitting by empty beds making $52 per hour is unfeasible.” Nurses don’t sit by empty beds. The American Nursing Association (ANA) entered the arena of collective bargaining in 1950. This ensures fair treatment and protects employees from retaliation and victimization. Whether to join a nurse union or not has been a dividing question in nursing since labor across the world started to unionize from the early 1900s. The others have trade service unions (like the teachers union) with a division for nurses & healthcare workers. Although job security is dependent on the employment contract that has been signed, a nursing union can generally provide nurses with a better overall career option in terms of longevity than non-union employment options. Registered nurse unions and patient outcomes.Â, Seago, J. At unionized workplaces, grievance procedures are clearly spelled out. They often have numerous patients, sacrifice time with their families to care for others, and work crazy shift rotations. Union negotiated salaries mean guaranteed wages and pay increases, based on years of service and other standards. Unions are harmful because they act as monopolies. impact of nurses’ unions is important for a number of reasons. This was after strikes had been organized by general unions representing nurses and also some ANA affiliated state nursing associations, who had started to act more like unions. The most forceful bargaining tool is strike action – but this leverage is usually used only as a last resort.Â. While this idea is advantageous in many ways, it can result in a loss for some. Since we started in 2010, Nurseslabs has become one of the most trusted nursing sites helping thousands of aspiring nurses achieve their goals. These specific points of consideration can help to create a better understanding of the local situation. In the 26 right-to-work states, employees can work at a unionized facility without having to join the union. Your stance on unions can, for example, influence where you apply for a job once you qualify – you might have to join the union at a particular hospital, whether you want to or not. © 2020 Nurseslabs | Ut in Omnibus Glorificetur Deus! If the union members won’t work, the law makes it extremely difficult for anyone else to step in and do their jobs. Breda KL(1). Unions were for laborers and those in trades – professionals generally did not join unions. McHugh added that unions can be beneficial for nurses, but automatically being part of one hasn’t remedied all the issues nurses face at work. Frieda Paton is a registered nurse with a Master’s degree in nursing education. Nurseslabs – NCLEX Practice Questions, Nursing Study Guides, and Care Plans. If your employees are unionized, chances are that you must deal with occasional union problems that affect worker morale and productivity. In some cases, unions have also succeeded in areas such as obtaining higher pay for the unpopular shifts.Â, In considering income you should, however, also realize that you’ll have to pay monthly union dues and that in the event of strike action you will lose the income for the days you’re on strike.Â. Research labor relations and common labor union issues for the nursing staff in an acute care organization and cover the following. Unions use their collective voice to bargain for improved compensation and conditions of service. For example, whereas professionals in the early 1900s were usually self-employed most are now salaried employees.