Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Forming a Nurses Union

8/9/2019 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Forming a Nurses Union

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NursesuNioN

Everything You EverWanted to KnowAbout Forming a


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Organizing was the best, most professional decision

we ever made. Together, we work with management to

ensure adequate staffing for the highest quality patient

care, job security, fair compensation and a real voice forRNs in our hospital.

- Robert Armstrong, RN, Penn State Hershey Medical Center

1 On Cover: SEIU members: Jessica Bickers, RN; Judy Kuzupas, RN; Teresa Kozak, RN,Altoona Regional Medical Center


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Its aboutworking together rather than going it alone.If youre like most health care professionals, chances are you want more input in decisions that affect the

quality of patient care and your profession. With the whirlwind of changes taking place in health caretoday, more and more nurses and other hospital employees are forming unions as a way to achieve avoice on the job and to stand up for quality care.

Forming a union can give you a way to work together with your co-workers rather thangoing it alone. By joining together in a union, hundreds of thousands ofother nurses and health care professionals across the country are

making their hospitals better places to work and to receive care.

Is forming a union right for you and your hospital? Thatsa question only you and your co-workers can answer. This book-let was designed to give you facts and information you can useto make your decision. It was prepared by the Nurse Alliance ofPennsylvania and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania the largest

and fastest growing health care union in PA.

SEIU members: Jessica Bickers, RN; Judy Kuzupas, RN,Altoona Regional Medical Center


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Q: Why are so many nurses forming unions?A: To solve problems like short staffing, gain a voice on the job, improve pay andbenefits, and stand up for quality patient care.

As cost-cutting, managed care, and hospital mergers dramatically change the way healthcare works, growing numbers of nurses and other employees are improving their jobs byjoining together in unions.

1. A voice for nurses in our hospitals. A union gives front-line caregivers a say in how the hospitaloperates. Instead of simply reacting to arbitrary decisions coming from management, we can work togetheto solve problems and influence policies that affect our job and our patients.

2. Better staffing and higher quality care. Through our unions, nurses and other hospital employeesnegotiate better staffing guidelines and more reasonable workloads, preserve professional standards, andstand up for quality patient care.

3. Higher pay and regular raises. Forming a union means negotiating guaranteed rewards for hard woa pay system that recognizes professional education, experience, and the increase in the cost of living.

5 Reasons Nurses are Forming Unions


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4. Benefits we can count on. Together, registered nurses negotiate benefitslike affordable family health insurance, pensions, vacation, and sick leave andthey are guaranteed in writing.

5. Job security. Forming a union allows nurses to bring fair procedures and jobsecurity to a hospital. It allows nurses to speak out about concerns on the jobwithout fear of retaliation, and to have a say when staffing changes, cost-cut-ting, and other decisions are considered.

Unions are a way of making sure nurses have a voice on the

job and in the delivery of health care. Having a union helps tobalance the growing power of health care corporations whileprotecting quality care.

The health care industry is changing- and not in a good way. Its time thatnurses have the power to affect those

changes for the better.

SEIU Members: Robin Brosh, Lucille Davis, Barb Lanunziata, RNsat Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center


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I considered leaving nursing becauseof the stress of having too many patientsunder my care. Instead I vowed to getmore involved with the implementationof the staffing ratios we negotiated in ourunion contract. Now I head up a unit-based committee that meets monthly toresolve unit issues. Our union is aboutnurses and other health care workerssupporting each other to improve condi-tions for nurses and our patients.

- Cathy Doerfler, RN,Allegheny General Hospital

SEIU member: Cathy Doerfler, RN, Allegheny General Hospital


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How does a health care union work?

Q: How does a union give us a voice in the hospital?

A: Tens of thousands of nurses and other health care professionals were right where you are nowwondering if whether forming a union will really make a difference. Today, as union members, thehave more control over their work, their future, and the quality of care they provide.

Negotiating a contract.9 Rather than leaving all the decisions about staffing, working conditions, patient castandards, and wages and benefits to hospital administrators, having a union allows you and your co-workers to negoate over these issues. A union contract doesnt mean youll get everything you want, but like SEIU members in hundrof hospitals nationwide, you can gain a real voice in decision-making and dramatically improve pay, benefits, and wor

ing conditions. Any changes in your contract must be negotiated. Management cant arbitrarily change the rules or benefits on its own.

A say in hospital policies.9 Growing numbers of union nurses and other hospital employees are participating in union-mangement committees designed to give them a voice in staffing, scheduling, and patient care decisionsThrough their unions, hospital staff work to strengthen and enforce regulations that govern patient care and lobby folegislation to protect patients and health care workers.

A way to resolve problems fairly.9 When problems arise, co-workers elected as delegates and representives will help work out solutions. Issues that are not resolved informally may go to grievance and arbitration proceduin which a neutral arbitrator, not management, gets the final say.


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Q: Can a union really improve the staffing and workload situation?

A: Understaffing and workload problems didnt crop up overnight, and solutions will take timetoo. As the health care industry continues to cut costs, it will take a combination of union bargaining, consumer action, and legislative measures to put staffing trends back on the right track.

But even now, union nurses have ways to improve staffing levels in their hospitals through unionmanagement committees or through procedures negotiated in union contracts, including:

Staffing and patient care standardsthat set limits on how many patients nurses must care for in a particular area oon a particular shift. In some cases, union-negotiated guidelines include the optimum number of staff to be scheduled for eac

shift and establish a mechanism for monitoring and implementing the standards.

A ban on mandatory overtimeto protect nurses and ensure the highest quality of patient care. Nurses negotiated elimintion or limits on mandatory overtime in union contracts before working together to pass a law in Pennsylvania against mandatoovertime in every health care facility. Now that the regular use of mandatory overtime is banned in Pennsylvania, union nurses havmore options in working with management to ensure our hospitals comply with the law and provide the best care.

Special committeesthat develop staffing and workload guidelines and oversee their implementation. In many cases, thescommittees have created staffing ratios that better reflect patient acuity not just numbers.

Protection against excessive workloadsand practices that undermine standards for quality and safety.

Recruitment and retention programsthat focus on improving benefits, salaries, and working conditions in order attract and maintain staff.

How can forming a union improve staffing and patient car


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When California passedminimum RN-to-Patient ratios

for hospitals, hospital vacancyrates plummeted and thenumber of actively licensedRNs grew by over 10,000 eacyear compared to 3,200 peryear before the law passed.

Source:California Board of Nursing

Did YOU know?

SEIU member: Margaret McGinley,Penn State Hershey Medical Cen

My sense of responsibility to mypatients and my communityrequired that I work to changeconditions at our hospital. For

me and my co-workers,forming a union was the bestway to win a voice at thetable and create real change.Since forming our union we

have seen real improve-mentsfor us as nursesand for our patients.


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What about professional pay, benefits, and standards?

Q: What kind of raises and benefits can we achieve with a union?

A: Every situation and every union contract is different. But if youre wondering whatdifference a union will make, consider these facts:

In 2008, on average, union members were paid 28 percent more than non-union employees. 1

Negotiated union contracts typically include guaranteed cost-of-living increases, pay steps that reward lon-

gevity in addition to various types of merit pay, on-call pay, shift and weekend differentials, and certificationand specialty bonuses.

Whatever you negotiate, your pay and benefits will be guaranteed in writing. With a union, youll knowwhen your next raise is coming and that your benefits are there to stay.

1 United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Union Members in 2008, January 28, 2009. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf


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SEIU Healthcare membersat Chambersburg Hospi-tal, Sue Russell, Lab Techand Crystal Brunner, RN

Before we had our union, thehospital broke its own rules. Ruleswere changed according to the

day, the people involved, or thesituation. Now, we help make the rules.Its a work in progress, but now we havemore stability.

- Bonnie Franciosi, RN,

Altoona Regional Health System

Did YOU know

A 2003 survey of Massachu-setts nurses found that 42%

of nurses not working in hospitals would strongly considreturning to bedside care ifsafe staffing legislation werepassed (from a pool of 42,00nurses).


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Q: How will forming a union help us advance our profession and achieve more job security?

A: Through our unions, professional caregivers have been able to

negotiate clinical ladders, expand continuing education benefitsand other provisions to ensure broad opportunities for profes-sional advancement.

Unions also create an environment in which everyone is treated fairly and withrespect. Contracts spell out even-handed policies that keep the hospital free of favor

ism and discrimination, protect employees from arbitrary discipline, and guarantee th

no one will be penalized or fired without just cause. And through their unions, tens othousands of hospital employees have protected their jobs by negotiating restrictionon layoffs, replacement of professionals by less-skilled staff, and unfair downsizin

SEIU is North Americas health care union, representing

nearly one million health care workers including nurses,physicians, techs, aides, and every other professional serv

administrative, and technical employee in hospitals.

Did YOU know?

SEIU member: Leslie Kozak, RNAllegheny General Hospital


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Why join SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania?

Q: Why should we form a union with SEIU?

A: SEIU is the largest and fastest-growing health care union in North America, and the largesunion of registered nurses and other health care workers in Pennsylvania. SEIU members haveearned a reputation as outspoken and effective advocates for safe, quality care. SEIU membersare leading the way to a health care system that works for patients and caregivers alike by:

Bargaining for better staffing guidelines and patient care standards as well as for the highest pay and benefits in9the health care industry.

Pioneering union-management committees that give front-line caregivers a voice in the way health care is delivered9

Educating and organizing consumers to stand up for quality care, and lobbying for a Patients Bill of Rights and safe9staffing legislation at the federal and state levels.

Winning a ban on mandatory overtime in Pennsylvania, strengthening and enforcing state regulations that protect9licensed health care professionals and ensuring safe staffing decisions.

Backing legislative initiatives to improve safety, winning a mandate to put safer needle devices in hospitals, allowing9whistleblowers to speak freely about improving patient care, holding corporate health care providers accountable forthe quality of patient care, and more.


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Q: Who are members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania?

A: SEIU Healthcare PA is Pennsylvanias largest and fastest-growing health care union.Over 20,000 health care employees are members of SEIU Healthcare PA, including nearly

9,000 nurses.

SEIU Healthcare PAmembers work in over 25hospitals,110 nursinghomes and home careagencies, and 60 state

health care facilities. Amongthe hospitals with registerenurse members in SEIUHealthcare PA are MercyHospital in Scranton,Geisinger Wyoming ValleyMedical Center, AltoonaRegional Health System,

Allegheny General HospitaHeritage Valley MedicalCenter in Beaver, and PennState Hershey MedicalCenter.


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Q: How do we form a union?

A: The first step is to establish a committee of nurses that will share information about

how to form a union to make your hospital a better place to work and provide qualityhealth care. The next step is to sign cards showing that you wish to form a union.

When a majority of your co-workers have indicated that you want to stand together to make changes at thehospital, you will work with management to win formal recognition of your union. Nurses will then elect a teaof their co-workers to negotiate a contract.

Q: Do we have a right to form a union?A: Yes. Federal law protects the right of private-sector hospital employees to join a unionand work to improve the quality of your jobs and patient care. You have the same right ttalk about the union while youre working as you do any other topic. You also have theright to read and distribute materials about the union on your non-work time in non-worareas such as break rooms and cafeterias.


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Q: What do union dues pay for?

A: Union dues are each members contribution to ensure that their organization has thestrength and resources to be effective. Dues are used to help employees negotiate contracts to

improve staffing, working conditions, patient care standards, and wages and benefits.SEIU Healthcare PA dues are 1.8% of gross pay, not including overtime hours worked, plus $1 per month that goes intoa special fund for legislative advocacy for safe staffing and other professional issues.

New members dont pay any dues until they have negotiated and approved a contract withimproved wages and benefits.

Union dues can only be changed by a majority vote of the statewide union membership.

Q: Who makes the decisions in the union?

A: The members do. A union is a democratic organization. Members elect union leaders andvote on union contracts, dues structures, and every other important decision that affects them. Aunion is a membership organization and its guided by the priorities members choose.


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Q: What is the advantage of having many types of healthcare employees in one organization?

A: Problems in hospitals are best solved by working as a team. What happens in one segmen

or department of the hospital affects everyone else.

Each group of health care employees negotiates its own contract to address its own issues, but they do so with theadded clout of 1 million SEIU health care employees. Standing together in an organization also gives all health careemployees a stronger voice on legislative and regulatory issues that affect them.

SEIU members: Linda CreightonLisa Harvey, Christie Osatchack, OR technicians,Schuylkill Medical Center


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Q: Will organizing a union ultimately leadto a smooth relationship with management?

A: Most hospital nurses say forming a union improves theirrelationship with supervisors because everyone knows whatto expect and there are clear ways to resolve any problems thatarise day-to-day. With a union, nurses share in decision-

making, and the needs of nurses and patients are always takeninto account.

Without a union, hospital management has sole authority over schedul-ing, staffing, pay, and benefits. By forming a union, you and your co-work-ers are choosing to work together, rather than go it alone. You can besure that your opinions will be heard, and that whats best for nurses andpatients is part of the decision-making process.

We Are Stronger Together

Did YOU know

9 out of 10 union mem-bers say they would votfor the union again if aelection were held toda

Source: Nationwide survey by Peter HarResearch Associates, 1997.


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1500 N. 2nd StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102

717-238-3030800-252-3894 (in PA)

www.SEIUHealthcarePA.org

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Forming a Nurses Union