Full Answer
What percentage of Nurses are unionized?
Nursing unions represent more than 230,000 nurses across the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those figures represent 20.4% of RNs and 10% of LPNs/LVNs. Joining a nursing union is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
What is the largest nursing union in the US?
Today NNU is the largest nursing union in the US, although there are many different unions representing nurses in this country. In 1999 the International Council of Nurses (ICN) adopted a policy statement on industrial action by nurses.
What percentage of LPNs join unions?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), those figures represent 20.4% of RNs and 10% of LPNs/LVNs. Joining a nursing union is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Some states have mandatory union participation requirements, while others are right-to-work states.
Are nursing unions more interested in membership dues or membership power?
This reflection of the leadership can cause the assumption that so-called nursing unions, or those representing nurses, are more interested in the power of membership dues. Nurses in a collective bargaining unit pay as much as $90 per month for union representation.
What percentage of RNs are union members?
According to the Washington DC-based Department for Professional Employees union coalition, just under 20 percent of RNs and 10 percent of LPNs and LVNs in the U.S. are union members. In a nutshell, labor unions are simply organized workers who elect union leadership to negotiate labor contracts on behalf of its members.
How much do unionized nurses make?
According to Soliant Health, unionized nurses can earn an average of $200-$400 more per week than non-unionized nurses. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 27% wage advantage in median weekly pay in union facilities (all industries) over non-union facilities.
What are the issues with unions?
According to The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (1), nurses commonly use unions to address issues such as: 1 Mandatory and voluntary overtime 2 Acuity-based staffing systems 3 Use of temporary nurses 4 Protection from reassignment, work encroachment by non-nurses and mandated non-nursing duties 5 Provisions for work orientation and continuing education 6 Whistleblower protection 7 Health and safety provisions 8 “Just cause” language for discipline and termination 9 Provisions for nursing and multidisciplinary practice committees
Why are unions important?
In general, according to a recent study (Dave Belman, “Unions, the Quality of Labor Relations, and Firm Performance”), unions often translate into increased productivity with better training , less turnover and longer employee tenure. In addition, according to Joe Twarog, Associate Director, Labor Education and Training in the Massachusetts Nurses Association, “while there are some laws that affect workers’ rights, such as minimum wage, OSHA, FMLA and ERISA, these are regarded as the floor in union facilities. That is, the union views these legal rights as the starting point from which to bargain better benefits above and beyond what the laws provide. However, in non-union facilities, these laws are most often the ceiling.”
Why do nurses use unions?
According to The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (1), nurses commonly use unions to address issues such as: Mandatory and voluntary overtime. Acuity-based staffing systems. Use of temporary nurses. Protection from reassignment, work encroachment by non-nurses and mandated non-nursing duties.
Do union nurses have to pay membership fees?
While unions do require membership fees, according to a study at the Center for Health Professions, union nurses are less likely to suffer from race and sex differences in wages.
Is it illegal to coerce an employee to organize?
The National Labor Relations Act states that it is illegal for an employer to attempt to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights to organize or to discriminate against an employee with regard to hiring practices, tenure of employment, or any term or condition of employment in order discourage labor organization membership. In other words, an employer cannot express or imply a threat of reprisal for organizing, and neither can it promise a benefit for refraining from organizing.
What percentage of nurses are covered by unions?
Credit... About 17 percent of nurses and 12 percent of other U.S. health care workers are covered by a union, according to an analysis of government data, and rates of union coverage have remained largely unchanged during the pandemic.
How many bargaining units did nurses have in 2019?
Despite the decades-long decline in the labor movement and the small numbers of unionized nurses, labor officials have seized on the pandemic fallout to organize new chapters and pursue contract talks for better conditions and benefits. National Nurses organized seven new bargaining units last year, compared to four in 2019. The S.E.I.U. also says it has seen an uptick in interest.
How many nurses signed a letter before the vote?
A group of 25 Mission nurses signed a letter before the vote saying “an outside third party, like the N.N.U., is not the solution.”. But last September, 70 percent of nurses approved the union, one of the largest wins at a hospital in the South in decades.
Where did the nurses strike?
At the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, the deaths of two nurses from the virus helped galvanize employees to strike for the first time last fall, said Paul Pater, an emergency room nurse and union official with the Illinois Nurses Association.
Do nurses care for twice as many patients?
In her hospital’s intensive care unit, Mrs. McIntosh said, nurses have sometimes cared for twice as many patients. “We’re being told to take on more than we safely can handle.”
Do hospitals play politics?
Hospitals claim the unions are playing politics during a public health emergency and say they have no choice but to ask more of their workers. “We are in a moment of crisis that we’ve never seen before, and we need flexibility to care for patients,” said Jan Emerson-Shea, a spokeswoman for the California Hospital Association.
Who is the president of the Federation of American Hospitals?
While some had difficulty providing protective equipment early on, hospitals have done their best to follow government guidelines and to protect workers, said Chip Kahn, the president of the Federation of American Hospitals, which represents for-profit hospitals.
What Is a Nurses' Union?
Nurses' unions are unified organizations that represent a specific group of nurses, such as those who work in a certain hospital system or a particular state. Unions advocate for nurses and protect their rights through collective action and negotiations.
Why do nurses join unions?
Many nurses join a union to advocate for better hours, increased pay, and positive changes in the workplace. While there are many advantages to joining a nurses' union, there are also drawbacks to consider.
Why are nurses unions important?
Nursing unions protect indispensable members of the healthcare industry. Many union policies and developments, such as adequate staffing ratios and safety equipment, directly help patients. Some research indicates nurses' union membership results in better patient outcomes. However, unions' emphasis on standards and seniority may remove some motivation for excellent performance.
How much do nurses make a week?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers (not just nurses) who are union members earn an average of $1,380 weekly, compared to $1,200 for those who are not in or represented by a union.
What does a union do?
Unions also ensure bonuses and yearly or biyearly raises are built into contracts. Unions and a collective bargaining unit will help to ensure those yearly benchmarks are met and raises are given.
Can nurses file a complaint with management?
Nurses who raise a complaint with management do not have to do so on their own. They can call for the nurses' union to investigate and act for them if they have cause for complaint. Some unions will supply an attorney rather than the nurse having to find their own attorney.
Is there a downside to nurses unions?
While these actions provide nurses with valuable support, there can be downsides to nurses' unions.
What are the unions for nurses?
There is no single labor union that represents nurses across the nation. Unions such as Service Employees International Union represent nurses as well as many employee groups such as janitors and airport workers. Unions such as National Nurses United and state organizations like the California Nurses Association encourage nurses to join as they claim to be nurse-focused. However, most of these unions are neither organized nor led by nurses. Many union business representatives are labor lawyers who are unfamiliar with nursing practice or healthcare. This reflection of the leadership can cause the assumption that so-called nursing unions, or those representing nurses, are more interested in the power of membership dues. Nurses in a collective bargaining unit pay as much as $90 per month for union representation. Given the number of nurses working in represented organizations, unions are a lucrative business.
What unions represent nurses?
Unions such as Service Employees International Union represent nurses as well as many employee groups such as janitors and airport workers. Unions such as National Nurses United and state organizations like the California Nurses Association encourage nurses to join as they claim to be nurse-focused.
How much did nurses lose during strikes?
Organizations have reported losses of over $46 million to train and replace the nurses for large strikes. These costs, even the deaths reported during strikes, are worn like a badge of honor for some nursing unions who boast of these outcomes to their constituents.
What is collective bargaining agreement?
For states that do not have nurse-to-patient ratios, or that require their nurses to work overtime to the point of potential patient harm, a collective bargaining agreement can address these safety concerns. Nurses can see the value of contractual language that requires shared governance and quality committees.
What happens when nurses go on strike?
However, when a union decides to go on strike, many nurses are faced with losing significant wages during the strike as well as their own personal ethical dilemma of leaving their patients to replacement nurses who are unfamiliar with their patient population.
Do unionized hospitals improve patient outcomes?
Research studies, such as Nurse Unions and Patient Outcomes, show that hospitals with successful unionization have slightly improved patient outcomes in the areas of hospital-acquired infections and readmission rates. Although this study concluded a casual effect of the union for the improvements, one can argue that patients fare better when admitted to a facility where nurses are represented. There are also studies showing that patients are less likely to die of a heart attack in unionized hospitals. Nurses working in unionized facilities also report a better job satisfaction rate than their non-union colleagues.
Is unionizing nurses good?
There is much research yet little definitive proof for either argument on the harm or benefit of unionizing nurses. The unstainable wage increases and golden ticket benefit packages with some institutions are creating sinkholes of cost versus a reasonable at-market wage that allows organizations to invest more into patient care programs. One fact remains true: unions in healthcare is big business for union leaders. Under the guise of improving nurses' working conditions and patient outcomes, unions continue to advocate for their own survival first and foremost.
How many nurses have a masters degree?
In 2018, 17.1% of the nation's registered nurses held a master's degree and 1.9% a doctoral degree as their highest educational preparation. The current demand for master's- and doctorally prepared nurses for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching, and research roles far outstrips the supply. 1. REFERENCES.
How many new RNs will be created in 2016?
Of all licensed RNs, 84.5% are employed in nursing. 1. The federal government projects that more than 200,000 new registered nurse positions will be created each year from 2016-2026. 2.
What is the scope of nursing?
Nursing's scope also includes services by certified nurse-midwives and nurse anesthetists, as well as care in cardiac, oncology, neonatal, neurological, and obstetric/gynecological nursing and other advanced clinical specialties. 5.
What is the largest component of the healthcare workforce?
Nurses comprise the largest component of the healthcare workforce, are the primary providers of hospital patient care, and deliver most of the nation's long-term care. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 15% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Does nursing work in medicine?
Though often working collaboratively, nursing does not "assist" medicine or other fields. Nursing operates independent of, not auxiliary to, medicine and other disciplines. Nurses' roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, and directing complex nursing care systems.
Do nurses need a bachelor's degree?
Employers are expressing a strong preference for new nurses with baccalaureate preparation. Findings from AACN latest survey on the Employment of New Nurse Graduates show that 46% of employers require new hires to have a bachelor’s degree while 88% strongly prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses. 6
Why do nurses want unions?
Other nurses believe that collective bargaining through unionization is the only way to address current issues in nursing, such as staff shortages, and their effect on the care which nurses can provide to their patients .
Why are nurses unions important?
Other current issues that unions are addressing at the highest levels include mandatory overtime and the safety of nurses in the light of the increasing violence against nurses.
What was the drive for unionization in nursing?
The drive for unionization in the last century came at a time when nursing organizations across the world were advocating for recognition of nursing as a profession. Unions were for laborers and those in trades – professionals generally did not join unions. Furthermore, union tactics were viewed as being in conflict ...
Why do nurse unions use their collective voice?
Unions use their collective voice to bargain for improved compensation and conditions of service. Here are the pros and cons of nurse unions:
When did nurses start unionizing?
ADVERTISEMENTS. Whether to join a nurse union or not has been a dividing question in nursing since labor across the world started to unionize from the early 1900s. While in the United States, union membership is shrinking in most sectors, the number of nurses joining unions or organizing to form unions is increasing.
Why are nurses on strike?
They have focused mostly on issues that affect safe patient care – for example, staff shortages, nurse-patient ratios, and compulsory overtime. And these issues can be related directly to current developments in the health care industry, including budget cuts and ever-increasing focus on profits.
When did the National Labor Relations Act become law?
In the US, the National Labor Relations Act, providing for workers’ right to unionize, was passed in 1935 .
How many union workers will be there in 2020?
The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.3 million in 2020, was down by 321,000, or 2.2 percent, from 2019. However, the decline in total wage and salary employment was 9.6 million (mostly among nonunion workers), or 6.7 percent. The disproportionately large decline in total wage and salary employment compared with ...
How many states have union membership in 2020?
Union Membership by State In 2020, 30 states and the District of Columbia had union membership rates below that of the U.S. average, 10.8 percent, while 20 states had rates above it.
What is the union membership rate for 2020?
In 2020, the union membership rate for full-time workers (11.8 percent) was about twice the rate for part-time workers (5.8 percent).
