What are some ways a Union and collective bargaining are effective?

Collective bargaining means that no further cuts can be made unless the hospital bargains with employees and employees agree to the cuts. Collective bargaining laws require that the employer bargain with nurses on issues that directly affect RN workload and job responsibilities (this includes staffing, changes in or modification of acuity systems). With a Union, you have Weingarten Rights. This means you have the right to representation in any meeting or interview with management that you believe may lead to disciplinary action against you. How much are dues? Dues are about an hour of your base pay per pay period. No one pays dues until after the full contract is negotiated, reviewed, voted on and approved by a majority of the nurses. Contracts with NNOC/NNU more than cover the cost of dues, also a contract protects against cuts that impact your pay check and the patient care you provide. Can the Employer freeze your wages during bargaining? NO! In 2003, a three member panel of the National Labor Relations Board ruled that an employer may NOT deny benefits or pay during negotiations, and that hinting or threatening to do so is illegal. The quote from the labor boards decision states It is settled law that when employees are represented by a labor organization their employer may not make unilateral changes in their terms and conditions of employment. This duty to maintain the status quo imposes an obligation upon the employer not only to maintain what it has already given its employees, but also to implement benefits that have become conditions of employment by virtue of prior commitment or practice. Will I see be able to talk to my manager? YES! NOTHING in an NNOC/NNU contract prevents you from talking to your manager or inhibits a manager from helping you. In fact, the typical contract grievance procedure encourages you talk to you manager 1st. The contract between NNOC-FL/NNU and Osceola Regional Medical Center states in Article 16, section 3 Grievance Procedure, letter A, Any Registered Nurse who has a dispute that could be the subject of a grievance shall first present the dispute informally and verbally to his/her immediate supervisor before initiating a formal grievance. Will I still be able to Self Schedule?: If RNs decide to form a union, nurses decide what to bargain for in your contract. You can include protecting self scheduling in your union contract and have it guaranteed in writing that it wont change. The contract between NNOC-FL/NNU and Osceola Regional Medical Center states in Article 41, section 1, The hospital recognizes the benefits to both the Hospital and some Registered Nurses arising from self-scheduling and flexible scheduling. The Hospital commits, for the duration of this Agreement, to continue to offer flexible scheduling and selfscheduling in departments/units and on shifts where such practices currently exist. Can I be forced to strike? No one can make RNs strike. Strikes can happen only after the old contract expires, before a new contract is agreed to by both parties. The issue(s) in dispute must be critically urgent to all to consider such drastic measures. Only RNs at your own hospital can decide in a secret ballot vote to strike and the results must be almost unanimous.