Share the latest rumors and news that your colleagues are talking about .
I am “anurse” who started this blog. When I interviewed with the Star Tribune I showed my credentials to prove I am a nurse at Children’s. You are free to believe what you wish, but I started this to support those of us who are not supporting this strike. We do not all follow the group and we are standing up for what we believe, just as you are.
Nostrikefornurses's Blog 
Posted by integritynurse on June 21, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Childrens authorized a strike and I am sick about it. We have the best staffing in the city. THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS!
Posted by Anonymous on June 28, 2010 at 8:13 pm
TCH’s want to change that though.
Posted by drichmn on June 28, 2010 at 8:26 pm
there is no language in any of the proposals that changes the staffing grids. The only ones wanting to do that is MNA by changing to fixed staffing ratios.
Posted by goodnurse19 on June 28, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Thank you for that clarification.
Posted by acsofs on June 21, 2010 at 11:37 pm
integrity nurse – I agree completely. I NEVER would have believed a few months ago that our nurses would even consider a strike, over any issue! The staffing, working conditions and compensation are about as ideal as any RN will ever see. The proposed changes by admin would not change that fact for the RN’s future employment, even if implemented as now proposed.
The union could have put Children’s up as an example of how staffing should be and can be, and then worked to develop the same acuity based system at any of the other 14 that truly do have inadequate staffing ratios (assuming there are any). That would have given me the impression that the patients’ needs were actually the main issue in these contract negotiations.
What a nighmare..
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 28, 2010 at 9:03 pm
then that is a process that needs to be discussed and perhaps a committee should be formed to look at these issues…not something for the negotiating table
Posted by goodnurse19 on June 28, 2010 at 9:08 pm
ANONYMOUS:
Do you see anyway to address this specific problem besides going on strike? Plus I wonder about these specific situations if and when a strike occurs. It seems like a scary propostion.
Posted by braveheart on June 21, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I agree with you both. Just down the road at Abbott Northwestern we are a magnet hospital that has the best staffing I have seen around the Twin Cities…most vent patients in the ICU are 1:1 though the standard at most ICU’s is 1:2 with vented patients. 1:3 on tele and 1:4 on M/S an days/eves. I am dumbfounded but not surprised but truly saddened by this development. The MNA Facebook page is apalling…celebrating and high fiving one another over their “strike vote”. I will be the first to resign from MNA and cross the line if it comes to that and I wil hold my head high being true to myself and my values as a professional nurse.
Posted by nurseon alert on June 22, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I agree, yes we have busy and challenging assignments but we have an Acuity based system……it works for the most part but when census is lower…less patients on the floor= less nurses to care for them…….less staff to divide up these patients meaning you could have several in an assignment…..but we have ADT RNs and Circulators. Rapid response RNs…its not always ideal but it is not unsafe.
Since this Contract has not gotten settled I noe have co-workers wanting to file unsafe staffing for things like …….2 d/c in an assigment, Pharmacy late with a med……..spending so much time complaining and dicussing MNA PRO STRIKE ……….its so upsetting to work with this …co-workers are not focusing on the patient care…………this has to stop……….RNs are losing focus of professionlism and patient care
Posted by Steaming on June 23, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I can’t get over the tension, lack of professional behavior, lies, rumors etc. Colleague is never a word I will ever use again to describe a fellow MNA RN.
Posted by wildfox on June 23, 2010 at 3:50 pm
This whole situation is so NOT needed. We will make it through this and come out stronger as people and health care providers. When you have a true vision of what excellent patient care is you can’t go wrong. If that means crossing the picket line to care for patients …. it is the only sane thing to do.
Posted by PJ on June 28, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I crossed for the one day and have since been treated like a leper. People who I believed were not only friends but co-professionals have turned on me, refuse to talk with me or be seen talking with me. Very painful. But I have to keep in mind that I cannot control what they choose to say about me, feel about me or do to me. I can only control my behavior and conduct myself with the highest integrity and professionalism and stay true to my standards and ideals. I stand proudly with all of you who choose patients care and true professionalism.
Posted by drichmn on June 28, 2010 at 1:57 pm
It takes a strong person to stand up to the intimidation and ostracization as you are. But as you have discovered you are proud to stand up for what you believe in even when it’s not popular.
Stay strong. And thanks for your comments. Feel free to ask any questions that you have. And I hope this blog will be helpful to you.
Posted by Anonymous and frustrated on June 29, 2010 at 12:20 am
Reading the comments on the MNA facebook page and comments from other sources makes me fear for my career. I like where I work and am happy but I fear that I will be pushed out by my co-workers when I cross. I am just feeling sick about the whole thing. I dont know what to do. I know crossing is the right thing to do but crossing the line is also crossing my co-workers. Part of the reason I like working where I do is because of them. It makes me sad that they may no longer be my friends after this. I am just sick sick sick and scared scared scared. What a sad situation this is and shame on the MNA for making it this way and promoting and supporting such unprofessional and childlike behavior.
Posted by goodnurse19 on June 29, 2010 at 12:26 am
Just know that we are here for you and you can count on our support.
Posted by worried on June 28, 2010 at 10:33 am
I agree. I also dont’ understand where the 81% vote to strike came from at unity where I work when every nurse I talked to this week was against it.
Posted by Anonymous on June 28, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Who supervised the counting of the votes?
Posted by nursespouse on June 28, 2010 at 3:05 pm
And don’t you want to keep those staffing numbers? If you are not supporting the Union view regarding the staffing levels and/or supporting the hospital’s view towards staffing, you are ALLOWING the hospital to reduce those staffing levels.
Posted by drichmn on June 28, 2010 at 3:22 pm
since they already have acuity based staffing levels the MNA is doing nothing for them. They obviously have them because of ANW’s commitment to high quality patient care. That’s why they are a magnet hospital and that’s why the Twin City hospitals are leaders in the nation for patient safety.
Every hospital has many patient safety initiatives ongoing and JCAHO accreditation focuses on patient safety. Google “safest in America” and read the MPR story from 2005 about how the CEO’s decided to collaborate. They did it because it’s the right thing to do not because an MNA contract “forced” them.
Posted by anonymous on June 28, 2010 at 4:13 pm
If that is the way you really feel, why are you not resigning from MNA now ?
Posted by nurse4Him on June 22, 2010 at 4:17 pm
What a breath of fresh air to find others who are also disappointed and concerned with what is happening in this crazy power struggle! I am not proud to be an MNA member. My hospital is St. Joseph’s, and the HealthEast care system has earned nothing but my loyalty and respect since I started there in 2004. We also, in my experience, have staffing ratios that support quality patient care – 1:5 on M/S during the night shift, sometimes 1:6.
The MNA “We care for you” slogan is a misleading front, behind which unrealistic demands and quests for power are raging like an ugly monster. What else can we do, besides voice our concerns on this blog? I have spoken with many of my co-workers who feel the same, but many of whom I believe felt pressured or intimidated into voting “yes” to authorize strike #2. Whether the strike vote was accurately reported or not, I am convinced that it does not portray the true sentiments of many nurses.
Thank you to whoever started this blog – let’s keep it professional and dignified, the same way we want to conduct ourselves as nurses!
Posted by drichmn on June 22, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Welcome to the blog. The person who started it is “anurse” who had been commenting in Star Tribune articles. Please feel free to participate in any of the blog post topics. And check out the links in the Blogroll. Also, feel free to spread the word to others you know who would like a place to share their views and feelings about how this strike is affecting them and their families and coworkers.
Posted by Anonymous on June 28, 2010 at 1:17 am
I was there for the count and it was accurate.
Posted by Anonymous on June 22, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Looks like Allina and MNA will be back to the tables on Thursday. How convenient, one day prior to the rumored potential 10-day strike notice.
Posted by John on June 23, 2010 at 9:35 am
@anonymous, you make it sound so underhanded – they were ordered back to the table by the federal mediators. they could have been called back at anytime, but you don’t force together two parties, nothing ever gets accomplished that way.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 23, 2010 at 12:32 pm
John….I think the point is it does not show very good faith to be filing a strike intent when they should be concentrating on bargaining.
Posted by Angie on June 23, 2010 at 12:25 pm
A lot of people have posted that the staffing on their units is good, if not very good. So where did the “rumor” begin that all that would change if we accept the current contract?? Is there something in others’ proposals that speaks to this?? Currently in my contract, we have very specific councils and committees in place, made up of equal members of MNA nurses and management to address and implement concerns and changes for staffing units. None of which have been proposed to change. Each unit has an evaluation team that is to participate in the review of staffing grids (quarterly) and yearly all units are reviewed for adjustment. It also includes the provision that staff cannot be decreased without team evaluation. This being said, staffing and changes to such, is A LOT of work, time and requires participation from staff nurses if you feel changes need to be made. I work on a cardiac stepdown unit, where we have a unique population of people with one foot in the ICU and one out ( so to speak:)) We use a “flex” grid on our unit that we got approved by the vice president of patient care services after months of collecting data to show a need for more staff. Budget was an issue, we brainstormed and worked our tails off to make some changes. Also, we called similar units across the country and spoke with managers and charge nurses to see how their units were staffed just to get a comparison. Rigid ratios are not the answer to patient care! And is also financially unsustainable to the organization. We need to work with our employers and organization as a whole together, they want good outcomes and safe care too!! But they are running a business and need to be fiscally responsible. You don’t work for MNA, you work for the hospital. I fear the bad feelings and disrespect that many have shown will impact the community and medical centers for quite some time.
Posted by wildfox on June 23, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Angie,
I agree, on our units we have staffing grids that are great. If we need extra staff due to acuity we just ask for staff and usually get them if they are available. Of course somedays we run short staffed mostly due to people calling in sick (usually the same people all the time).
Posted by Steaming on June 23, 2010 at 3:29 pm
I would like to see the posted requirement of filled FTE vs the number of ill calls. You are so right. They need to get rid of sick time and give them PTO. The calls ins will drop dramatically. Also, post at the entrance the name, dept and number of times this year the RN has called in sick. About as rational as closing, canceling surgeries, posting staffing at the door and fining. Get into reality.
Posted by wildfox on June 23, 2010 at 3:52 pm
PTO is great ! If you do not call in sick you have tons of vacation time.
Posted by SD HCW on June 27, 2010 at 10:58 pm
The hospital my mother works for required you to use 3 days of PTO (and to be seen by your provider) before you can access you sick leave. If you are going on medical LOA, or having an outpatient procedure, the 3 day rule is waved as long as you follow all the steps to go directly to SL. Sure has cut down on the Monday & Friday sicks!
Posted by wildfox on June 23, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Did anyone hear MNA intends to give 10 day strike notice tomorow morning before negotiaitions start?
Posted by Angie on June 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm
I heard that on channel 4…although the MNA website denies this…stay tuned.
Posted by Anonymous on June 23, 2010 at 4:28 pm
The rumor around my hospital today after the MNA meetings is that their intent was to give it late this afternoon or tomorrow before negotiations. I did not go to the meeting, as I removed myself from MNA, but that is the information MNA was telling the nurses.
Posted by drichmn on June 23, 2010 at 4:46 pm
If MNA is telling this to the nurses then how can they deny it? Any idea how this might have leaked to WCCO?
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Yes Wildfox…ch 4 said on their news at noon that the 10 day intent to strike would be filed before tomorrow’s negotiations….MNA is saying it is untrue so will have to stay tuned.
Posted by wildfox on June 23, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Nice way to start “meaningful” negotiations. Wouldn’t that fall into the “not good faith bargianing” file?
Posted by Anonymous on June 23, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Here’s an interesting chat going on over on MNA Facebook –
Nancy ***** / Maureen said yesterday that the nurses are asking for hospitals to staff at 100%. Is this true? I thought it was for nurse/patient ratios.
Mary ***** / Asking for 90% in the budget, not actually staffed. That is what I understand.
Minnesota Nurses Association / Neither is true. Not asking for 90 or 100%. basically asking for them to staff their daytime grids 24 hours. There may be a few places where the day shift grids don’t match what we’re asking for but not many. That’s why the $250 million pricetag seems ridiculous.
Aimee ***** / Maureen left me very confused as I too was under the impression that we were asking for same staffing on all 3 shifts. Just an FYI, I work nights with an army recruiter and he told me that the us army staffs their hospitals similar to what we are asking for, reason being “the patients are just ask sick at night as they are during the day. Illness doesn’t stop at the end of day shift.”. Amazes me that the army understands this and is willing to spend us dollars on it but hospitals are not.
Hmmm…. This shows how insane the MNA staffing proposal is. On med-surg units, the work flow on days is substantially different from eves, and extremely different on nights. How is MNA trying to justify equal staffing ratios 24/7? And how can any med-surg nurse delude themselves into ignoring the differing needs of pts during the three shifts?
Posted by lovenursing on June 23, 2010 at 10:43 pm
and if nurses would do their research they would realize that the research on mandated nursing ratios is not supported! ANA does not support it, JCAHO does not support it, and many of the articles do not have any direct correlation. JCAHO and Robert Wood Johnson’s report in Feb 2010 both state that mandated ratios are not the answer to better patient safety, it is more complex and is a team effort.
Posted by Linda on June 24, 2010 at 8:20 am
Agree
Patient safety is all about every person doing the right thing every time. Double checks, safety rounds, universal protocol, checking name bands, following policies / procedures, teamwork, collaboration, answering lights promptly, listening to the patient needs, critical thinking, using appropriate equipment and all other tools that are in place to make sure patients, staff and visitors are safe. Set ratios will not make all these ‘right things’ happen. This blog site is a true example of the professional and caring side of nursing. THANK YOU ALL.
Posted by relievedRN on June 24, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I completely agree. This is the “elephant in the room” nurses do not want to address. How often do nurses comment on coworkers “not answering lights, spending too much time on personal cell phones, using the internet, and simply not working hard? The unit I work on at United Hospital is appropriately staffed the majority of the time. When safety issues arise they are usually not the result of poor staffing. I appreciate Linda’s excellent overview of all that is CURRENTLY in place to keep people safe- by being a competent, hardworking team member.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 24, 2010 at 9:15 am
lovenursing, there are links provided on the side that have different studies concerning the staffing ratios….just wish more nurses would read them! I do have to ask why would we want rigid ratios that do not account for patient needs and acquity? I believe more flexible ratios would be more helpful.
Posted by lovenursing on June 24, 2010 at 9:25 am
i’ve tried to educate nurses when i can, but at times they only believe what MNA is telling them…i dont understand why professional nurses give away their critical thinking regarding acuity and nursing judgement to fixed ratios!
Posted by Becky on June 27, 2010 at 5:34 pm
I agree. I have tried to talk to nurses about the information I have read and I am met with anger and only the information they have been given by MNA.
Posted by listenup123 on June 24, 2010 at 8:36 am
Anyone know the facts about the 3% raise at Regions everyone over on MNA facebook is talking about? I wonder if their wages and step raises are the same as MNA’s? I would guess we are not comparing apples to apples. I would like someone to post the real facts about the Regions pay scales etc…. Do they have a funded pension? If anyone here knows an RN from Regions could you check in with them?
Posted by ConcernedNurse on June 25, 2010 at 10:03 am
I am really curious about this as well. I don’t think it’s true. I am actually leaving a contract hospital – NMMC – to start a new job at Regions the beginning of July. I’m on the receiving end of dirty looks and snide comments for moving to a non-contract hospital, but this topic was brought up yesterday at NMMC. I believe the step raises are the same… however, they are going to recognize my Bachelor’s in Psychology (I have an ADN) which NMMC has never done. What I was told earlier this week when I went in for my employee health visit is that no one was laid off during the last year at Regions, but that is because they didn’t take raises.
Posted by listenup123 on June 25, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Great, you can report back to tell us the facts. This is such a bone of contention out on the MNA facebook. It would be nice to see what the real story is.
Posted by ConcernedNurse on June 26, 2010 at 11:22 am
hmmm… seems like it might be true. One employee posted that she had gotten a letter in the mail about it, then MNA posted a copy of the letter.
Posted by drichmn on June 26, 2010 at 11:36 am
You know I don’t really see what the whole flap is about Regions nurses getting a pay increase. Do nurses think that all business give raises uniformly?
And who knows what their other benefits are. Regions is a non-contract hospital. As such, it may have very different wage and benefit scales, shift differentials, etc than any of the contract hospitals do.
This is just more noise whipped up by MNA to try to justify their demands but by not having all of the backgound information to put it into context. And if the nurses are so unhappy where they are then let them apply for positions at Regions. It’s really as simple as that.
Posted by ConcernedNurse on June 26, 2010 at 11:56 am
Thank you. I didn’t really see the issue either. I kinda felt like people were giving me a hard time not only for moving to a non-contract facility, but also for going someplace that can afford to give a raise to their staff. Why does that make me a bad person? My husband, son and I moved to the opposite side of the cities from NMMC and I’m currently spending 2 hours driving back and forth to work. I wanted to work closer to home and Regions not only kept me on file (after an interview a couple of months ago), but called me at home to offer me this position. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse and will allow me a much shorter commute as well as more time with my family and 5 month old son. Anyway… obviously I have been justifying my decision at work. 😉
The shift differentials are the same. The staffing in the unit I will be working is the same – PACU – if not a little better at times. The steps and wage scale must be a little different because I could not find the wage Regions offered me in NMMC’s contract book.
I consider myself very lucky (and am incredibly thankful) that I was able to find a new job right before the strike is scheduled to happen. Now I can still go to work without having to cross any picket lines.
Posted by drichmn on June 26, 2010 at 12:22 pm
It’s really none of their business. You shouldn’t have to be made to feel like you have to justify any personal decisions you make.
It makes no difference that Regions is giving RN’s a 3% increase. Who knows what concessions their RN’s gave over the last 2 years? Regions is not the same as any one of the other hospitals. Their finances aren’t interchangeable. They are also a public hospital like HCMC and get county operational funding (ie tax dollars) like HCMC. None of the other hospitals do.
Good luck in you new position. I’m sure you and your family will benefit from less commuting. And family is more important than a union or what you coworkers think of your decision.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 26, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I am happy for you! Believe me I am sure many of us would love a job in a non-contract hospital and to not be going through this. You are leaving a contract hospital for a non-contract and that makes a statement itself….congratulations!
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 26, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Bravo!
Posted by wildfox on June 24, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Both sides ageed on MEDIA BLACKOUT! I find this childish, patients and hospital workers have a right to know what is going on.
Posted by drichmn on June 24, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I actually think it’s better for both sides to keep negotiations out of the media. I think there’s been too much fanning the flames in the media already.
Posted by LoveMyJob on June 24, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I agree with drichmn. I’m as curious as anyone but I have been frustrated by how each bit of news get’s “spun” by each side. They need some space to begin to build bridges on these issues.
Posted by Anonymous and frustrated on June 25, 2010 at 3:28 am
Watch for an article in the star and trib this weekend. I just did an interview with them to tell them all about the concerns that are being talked about here. They are not going to use my name because I dont want to be harrassed. I hope it will bring some light to the public that all nurses dont feel like the MNA says they do.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 25, 2010 at 8:49 am
Thank you for doing an interview with the star and trib…..I think the article will be a combination of our interviews and others. I, too, am remaining anonymous which is not because of my opinion. I have been rather open with my opinon in not supporting a strike….but this blog has great potential to anger many people so for now I will continue to remain annymous.
Posted by acsofs on June 25, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I’ll be working this weekend and will make sure the article is front and center in our breakroom!! I’ll also pass it on to friends, relatives and neighbors. Thanks to all who have contributed to the article.
Posted by Steaming on June 26, 2010 at 8:52 pm
drichmn,
Can we look into the possibility of a lock out. Z x 6 made a point I think we better look into. If the nurse crosses right away vs. crossing in a few weeks. I know a dear friend who feels terrified to cross plans to wait it out for 2 weeks and see what happens. I would hate for her to have misinformation about being able to come in after 2 weeks. I will do the leg work tomorrow. I will ask the HR dept tomorrow. We may need to change our msg and let everyone know if they plan to cross they made need to resign and make their intentions know this week.
Posted by drichmn on June 26, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I put in the “tips if you work during the strike” document in the FAQ’s that they should check with their manager and HR department to determine what their hospital is going to do about this. There were people from different hospitals that seemed to be told a different thing so best to check with your own to get accurate information.
Posted by Anonymous and frustrated on June 27, 2010 at 9:39 am
I know at north my manager told me before the first temper tantrum strike that if someone wanted to cross they had to do it day one or they would not be allowed to come back to work till it was over and they were called back. I plan on talking to her again tomorrow to let her know my intention to cross and see what plans they have in place for nurses like me.
Posted by drichmn on June 27, 2010 at 9:45 am
talk to your HR dept to see their position over the long haul of an open-ended strike.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 27, 2010 at 3:33 pm
If you don’t get the appropriate answers from your manager talk to HR.
Posted by anotherview on June 27, 2010 at 9:14 am
I know Allina is reading this blog and will make sure that the question of crossing right away vs. crossing a few weeks into the strike gets answered clearly. Watch for RN communications and FAQs.
Posted by drichmn on June 27, 2010 at 9:19 am
I hope all the hospitals are reading this blog so that questions like this are answered.
Posted by Terribly Uneasy on June 28, 2010 at 10:37 am
I found reference to this blog in Star Tribune today. I am a nurse in an Allina facility. I have respect for my employer and the hospital I work for. The staffing ratio is decent where I work. I want to keep the health insurance I have. I would work another 3 years under the contract that expired without a pay raise. Unfortunatly keeping the contract how it is was not something I ever got to vote on. I am on the fence about whether to cross or not. I do not want to go on strike because my gut tells me it will last too long.
Crossing the picket line is a slap in the face to my collegues and I work with an awesome team of nurses. The atmosphere on my unit has changed in all of this and it is a shame. How do we get back to the team we were?
Going on a long strike is a slap in the face to my patients and against everything I value about being a nurse. This all makes me terribly uneasy hence my name. I have to make a choice I can live with. I am glad for this site. You are people of integrity. Thank-you for your honesty and support.
Posted by RN4life on June 28, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I know that at least one of the TCH and myabe more were asked over a year ago if they wanted to keep the contract as is for another year but declined the offer from MNA. I know how difficult that has been because the two sides are at odds with each other with much mudslinging by both going on. Although I am a nurse who may/will be on strike and honor the picket line, there are many of us who have heavy hearts related to the way our own hospital has been giving false information regarding the “bargaining” that they and MNA have been trying to do. I am not happy about nurses crossing the picket lines because I feel they are being short-sighted of the ramifications that can come from the contract that TCH are proposing. I am looking ahead for our patients and nurses to come in the next decade who will need tour support. If TCH could possibly get past the “union busting” tactics as their agenda, maybe, just maybe, MNA and TCH could do some “good-faith bargaining” as we’ve seen in the years previously with our contract negotiations.
Posted by KIDSRN2 on June 28, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Rn for life: I understand all that you are saying but I feel strongly that the TCH would not be in the “Union Busting ” mode had MNA bargained with them as they had in previous years. Bringing in the NNU has changed how nurses are willing to do actual negotiating vs taking the Big Union stand and ” no concession” attitude. Problem is some AFL/ CIO people are actually saying there are times for taking and time for giving and in this economic time this is the time to give back. We do want our future nurses to enjoy the benefits that we have, you don’t get that by trying to strong arm the hospital and demand how they run a business. the next decade will have many nurses at the age of retirement and younger/newer nurses again will have the ability to gain in their contract
Both sides have played badly and most of us want real work done tomorrow, but I fear they will strike.
RN’s may choose to leave their jobs willingly and may come back to same or better but have they thought about the ancillary staff that work with us help us at the bedside and do a great job? Many of these fine people will lose jobs or be laid off and never replaced, do they think about that . Crossing isn’t just about my pay it is also about respecting what others do in the hospital that make me be a better nurse
Posted by goodnurse19 on June 28, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Strikes are bad for everyone. No one wins.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 28, 2010 at 11:36 pm
kidsRN2: Crossing isn’t just about my pay it is also about respecting what others do in the hospital that make me be a better nurse Thank you for sharing that with us…I think many have been forgotten in this ….including the patients.
Posted by acsofs on June 28, 2010 at 11:24 am
Glad you found this site and I hope the resources and information found here will help you find your answer regarding whether or not to strike. There is a lot to consider.
Posted by Terribly Uneasy on June 28, 2010 at 11:33 am
Thank-you for your response. Yes, there is a whole lot to consider. My letter of resignation from the union is written. If negotiations tomorrow don’t produce a contract the burden is on me whether or not to send it. I do not want to send it but my position does not match the union on the staffing ratios and I will not walk off the job indefinitly on that premise.
Posted by notsureyet on June 28, 2010 at 11:39 am
And my letter is also ready. If negotiations go nowhere again tomorrow- then I am done! After three months of this stand-off about safe staffing, if no progress is made tomorrow, I feel nothing can ever be decided, losing faith here- good point that you will not walk off of a good job indefinitly for some staffing grid that doesn’t even apply and hasn’t been proven to work. Huge risk. Both MNA and the hospitals have the power to turn this around and stop this strike!
Posted by Terribly Uneasy on June 28, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I realize we are not the majority and I find comfort in finding you here. I too am losing faith. It is a standoff and we are in the middle. Not a good place to be. I am a reasonable prudent nurse. Crossing the line will bring a different viewpoint from my co-workers.
The way I am begining to see it is we were lead onto a ship of solidarity that the union planned on sinking in a “we all go down together” philosophy. Wait a minute!!! Your sinking the ship and I do not get a life vest!! Starts looking like suicide and I want off and out of this drama.
Please let them turn it around tomorrow. Negotiate a contract and then we will once again have piece of mind. Take Care.
Posted by notsureyet on June 28, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Terribly Uneasy- good to know that we are not alone in our fears. I agree that we have trusted the MNA and feel as if we are headed for disaster. I worry about my co-workers behavior towards us more than I worry about anything else. This is excruciating to say the least. Fear of the unknown is driving so much of this stress. Those who chose to cross may lose their jobs and those who strike may lose theirs too. We will probably be told to go find another job that is not union, we will be accused of “reeping the benefits” that they stood outside for not getting paid, and for those benefits we have already consumed by previous contract negotiations. No matter which way I go I don’t think I can hold my head up! There will be shame aimed at both. I really just want to take care of my patients and not be facing this huge disruption for everyone involved. Hang tough people we have eachother!
Posted by RN4life on June 28, 2010 at 5:55 pm
notsureyet……As a nurse you have the right to hold your head up high no matter what! As is said, this to shall pass…there will be those who may treat you differently and you may choose to change positions….but always keep your head up high for what you feel is right for you. No regrets! I say this as a nurse who will honor that picket line if needed, but knows the struggles other nurses have within themselves to make such a difficult choice. Yes, I for one will not be pleased if you cross the picket line but I know if you decide to it was done with much thought. Any one of the nurses involved in this year’s contract negotiations have invested themselves in providing safe and quality patient care and this is very foreign to us to have to take a stand against the employers we once thought were in this together. Keep informed from both sides and do what your heart is telling you…keep your head up no matter what you decide…you’ve earned!
Posted by notsureyet on June 28, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Thankyou for the uplifting advice! You are a wonderful and calm person with a lot of sense about you- we can all appreciate that!
Posted by Notbargaining on June 28, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I am a RN at a Twin Cities hospital. We are not currently negotiating. I feel for you guys and I am on the fence about staffing issues. Our hospital this March changed pt/rn ratios after paying lots of money to a consulting company who came in and “studied” our staffing.. We now have more pts per RN and less NA’s and PSC’s or HUCS as some hospitals call them. So the tele unit has 5/1 on days and eve, med/surg is 5/1 and even 6/1 on eve I am not sure what nocs are ICU stayed the same except they lost NA’s…It pretty much sucks. many more complaints of call lights not being answered promptly. There are signs posted from infectious disease about increases in infection rates since March. Many people frustrated when leaving due to not being able to provide what they feel is good care. and keeping up with charting, etc Just thought I would let you know. We had “guidelines” for staffing before this but the culture was usually to staff by number. I currently do not do staffing so not sure what the culture is now.
Posted by slrn on June 29, 2010 at 8:30 am
I am a nurse at an Allina hospital and after much consideration I have decided I will be working through the strike, if that happens. Just recently I found out about resigning from the union. Does anyone out there have more information regarding this? Do you have to resign if you plan to cross the picket line? What happens if you don’t resign? Any information would be appreciated.
Posted by nostrikefornurses on June 29, 2010 at 8:39 am
slrn, there is a link at the top for resigning from MNA. There can be some reprimands if you cross and do not resign..we are told they cannot fine you but the language in the by-laws is a little gray. If they can impose fines I am told they can be large so that is why most are resigning…good luck!
Posted by AllinaCNA on July 1, 2010 at 4:33 am
Kudos to anurse for starting this blog! I hope that all of you wonderful RNs do not mind a comment or two from a CNA.
I am delighted to find this blog and to read the respectful, thoughtful and most importantly researched comments made here. I too find the MNA facebook page deplorable, with it’s childish and inappropriate comments made about many of the principals in this mess called negotiations.
I have worked at an Allina hospital for over nine years. Though there are days that can be challenging staffing wise, I feel like many of you, that our staffing ratios are excellent. After working NOCs for eight of those years, the thought of staffing at the same ratio for all three shifts is just plain laughable.
I have so many wonderful RN friends, many who share the views here, and also many who seem to have been “indoctrinated” into the MNA mentality. From the very beginning of the strike talk I have been filled with fear for these friends. So many have the idea that the TCH could not possibly replace so many nurses and that they will cave if an open ended strike occurs. I lived through the Hormel strike in Austin in the late eighties. Their union had similar “hard nosed attitudes” about negotiations, and at the end of a very long and painful strike, none of those union employees had a job. The town was literally ripped apart between those who crossed and those who didn’t, with hard feelings and lost friendships remaining to this day.
This is just such a sad situation, one that I firmly believe did not need to come to this point. I absolutely love my job and the people that I work with and I don’t think it will ever be the same if this strike goes forward.
I want to commend those of you who are standing up for your beliefs and your patients by crossing the line and going to work. May we all support each other, our employers and our patients during this difficult and stressful time!
Posted by drichmn on July 1, 2010 at 7:47 am
Thank you for your considerate comments. The parallel to the Hormel strike is apt although it’s extremely sad to even contemplate it. MNA is following the tactics of NNU who in turn is, I believe, being directed by AFL-CIO.
ACL-CIO knows nothing at all about nurses, patient care, or our profession. Their tactics are the same used when shutting down manufacturing plants. But hospitals are not factories and patients are not parts on an assembly line. Lives are at stake in a hospital if you walk out, no one ever died from stopping a car from being made. They are harming our profession and the reputation of nurses across the country by these tactics.
Those of us who don’t agree with these tactic must, we simply must, not let this happen. Our patients and our profession require all of our advocacy skills and a little bit of political savvy in order to stop this march against the reputations of nurses and our profession.
I do hope others around the country who have been considering severing ties with ANA are taking a lesson from what is happening here and has happened in other states in which they’ve gotten a toe-hold. Those who have recently severed ties should learn from this as well. Perhaps they need to return to the professional organization that has been a true advocate for the nursing profession for decades and has bargained for nurses in good faith.
It’s clear to me that the nurses installed as officers in the new union are simply figure-heads and the show is being run by others behind the scenes. I’m not against unions but this new one is harming our good and trusted name in the community. And that is not acceptable in my book.