Three Unions Are Forming An RN Nurse "Super-Union"

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/11055

By Doug Cunningham

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee is joining with United American Nurses and the Massachusetts Nurses Association to form a 150,000-member nurse’s union. When the unions complete their merger in with a national founding convention in December it will become the largest registered nurse’s union in U.S. history. The new nurses “super-union” will focus on organizing non-union nurses. The new combined union will also push for comprehensive health care reform. Next week they are working together to co-sponsor a nationa lRN Day of Action in Washington, D.C. that will emphasize the nurse to patient ratio issue. RN union representation and health care reform. California Nurses Assocaition Co-President Deborah Burger says the collective strength and unity of the new organization will have a n enormous impact on improving the lives and workplace standards for all RN’s and will help nurses deliver higher quality care to patients.

[AnneD]

1. I am a Nurse and a member of the Houston Federation of Teachers

I wouldn't even think about being a Nurse in today's health care environment and NOT be in a union. It just isn't safe for Nurses or patients.

[patrice]

2. I work around nurses. Have a few in my family. There are financial pressures against quality care

and nurses are inherently anti-BS.

[AnneD]

3. Boy, you got that right....

just listen to them after Administration tries to cram the 'Customer Service' model down their throats (would you like fries with IV). We have to keep reminding these numbn nuts that while yes a hospital room costs the same as a hotel room in Disney world-they are there for treatment-not amusement. And there is nothing amusing about waiting for your pain meds because your poor overworked nurse has too many other patients to care for. Sometime-read comments on a nursing website-it will curl your hair.

[patrice]

4. I was the only person there for my MIL (her only son is incompetent with her)

for 6 years, before she passed on. I also saw my Dad decline and die.

There are a great many "judgement" calls in "medicine" and little tiny things can make the difference between an Elder being in the hospital or puttering around the kitchen. It's the Nurses and the Certified Nursing Assistants who figure that stuff out, NOT the doctors.