Is it me or are our unions a complete waste of money? If there was such a product, I would rather spend my money on proffessional legal insurance because that's pretty much the only reason to be in a union these days. The 2007 pay deal completely bites, 1.9% and what do the RCN and UNISON do? Nothing, I for one would go on strike and am sure many others are of a like mind. This time next week everyone will have forgot that nurses got a below inflation pay deal, the so called RCN 'campaign' will be over and we'll be left struggling on. What's more, if the government can get away with giving us a 1.9% pay deal this year what's to stop them doing the same next year? Or less even! I guess we've only got ourselves and our apathy to blame - does anyone know of an insurance product for providing legal cover?

Have you talked to your Union rep? Do you go to meetings and let your voice be heard?

You should move to Alberta. Our Union kicks ass!

I have given uponfair play for nuses, however nurses need to be careful theses days as many of our nursing skills are being given to health care assisstants to do, even though they don't get the high level of training to do them.
This the goverment and society want high quality nursing care for as little money as possible, and still expecting a high standard of care. However nobodt informs the public of these changes and when they complain the employers look for scapegoats which will invariebly be the nurses.
I agree that our unions, nursing associations and in particular the NMC (WHO WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE IN THE FIRST PLACE) should be screamimg at the govermentto get thair proiorities right as regarding Health Care in th UK.
Glen

I would go for a union if we could, at least it gives you some power in your work place. We just got moved to 12 hour shifts instead of 8, our input didn't matter. This is a major life change if you work the p.m. shift. Is your union a government union? How would that work?

i agree that 1.9% is an unfair pay raise! it may not even cover your union dues (if you are obligated to pay dues ,and i'm 99.9% sure you are)! it has been my experience as an rn that any union facility that i've worked in ,the rn's were NOT in the union. it made for a bad situation though,"i'm going to MY union" type thing thrown out freely .most of the union employees did not need the services of their union as they worked hard and did their jobs .it was the employees that were not "up to par" that seemed to use their services alot! i was in the union as a cna and working at the phone co .attended all the meetings etc,still lost my job when the phn co closed its office here! ive never heard of an insurance for legal services ,but not looking as i believe that we can all become insurance poor ,auto,life,homeowners,health,mortgage,motorcycle,items purchased,trips,etc! dont worry though if you have a case ,ive never heard of a lawyer turning it down!good luck to you,ive been jaded as you can see!

You are probably best off voting with your feet. There are better unions out there. I'm pretty happy with mine, frankly. Good luck.

Our facillity attempted to go union several years ago but it was voted out due to the propaganda promoted by the current administration. The union was actually a food chain union, which admin kept saying do you really want someone from a "food chain making your decisions on nursing. This killed the union deal, but what the nurses didn't take into consideration is the people saying this are business people not nurses and the nurses in administraiton have not functioned as nurses for 20 years and have no idea how much nursing has changed. ARE THERE ANY UNIONS WHICH ARE STRICTLY NURSING UNIONS???????
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The hospital I work at the RN's are in a Union. So are the LPN's but it is different. Actually the union can be a good thing. That is if you are willing to participate in what is going on in your Union. Most times you have only a few members who are active in the Union and the others members show interest around the time of the contract discussions. The last 2 contracts our RN union bargained even at the time of a nursing shortage as leverage they still managed to lose more than they gained. The big reason was fear of a strike. I have been on a contract negotiation team and from experience management does not want a strike any more than the employees. But having the leverage of a strike can help with bargaining. As long as you don't stand up for better pay and benefits and aren't willing to strike to get them, management will continue to cut their costs the quickest way they know how with Nursing!!!

no union at our hospital. wish someone would step in for us though. the way things are going around here i can smell a sick out or a strike or something boiling.

Our union in Australia is strictly nursing (called the ANF-Australian Nurses Federation) and it is a strong one! It doesn't always get what we want, but it tries bloody hard to do so!

I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT UNIONS SINCE IVE NEVER BEEN A PART OF ONE BUT I HEAR STAFF TALKING ABOUT THE UNION IN NORTHERN CAL AND THEY ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH IT...


NAWLINSGIRL