Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital
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Reading Hospital

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Nurses @ Work

 

 

Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals is courting our staff!
PASNAP is a labor union and labor unions are a business, in order to survive a business needs to make a PROFIT. That profit
must come from your paycheck.
HIGHCOSTPASNAP

Risk of Loss

Beware of half truths

STOP, Dont sign that card!

The problem with compulsory unionism

PASNAP is a division of the California Nurses Association. See documentation below:

CNA’s Objections to the Election

Union capitulation letters at Hahnemann

Pasnap is the CNA

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98 Responses to Reading Hospital

  1. MKL July 14, 2017 at 12:01 #

    Be aware – the “Patient Safety surveys” being mailed to RNs are not about patient safety. It’s PASNAP propoganda.

  2. Earl Kopsie, RN August 29, 2014 at 10:37 #

    I worked 22 years at Wernersville Stste Hospital, I support SEIU1199P, because my supervisors came up with so much Bullsh_t to call me on the carpet it wasn’t funny. One time in particular was when I was accused of grabbing the badge of a new employee, who was 6″4 and making fun of them (I’m only 5″8) My union had a field day with that, There are too many to tell you about yet staff that sleep with patients are kept around?? I don’t get it!

  3. Nurse December 13, 2013 at 15:44 #

    PASNAP does not protect union members. Here in Philly, they are known to make back door deals with hospital management to get rid of certain union members. Basically, they won’t fight for union members as they claim they do.

    • Concerned Citizen December 17, 2013 at 11:14 #

      1) PASNAP (really CNA/NNOC/NNU, a.k.a. the CALIFORNIA nurses’ ass’n) looks out for number one (itself) first and foremost. 2) Don’t be tricked into supporting CNA/NNOC/NNU and their radical leftist political agenda — it’s all about them, their forced dues, and their political power. They cut deals with anyone and everyone when it suits them and their power hungry leadership. 3) If you ever think about supporting them, go back and read no. 1 and 2 above, and do your homework first. For example: http://lrionline.com/strike-happy-nnu-intimidates-voters and http://www.readinguf.com/nnu/union_intro.html

      Don’t forget, unions are like roach motels: easy to check in, very difficult to check out.

  4. Reading RN November 15, 2013 at 19:36 #

    Is PASNAP gone?

    • Concerned Citizen November 21, 2013 at 07:27 #

      Don’t assume PASNAP (in reality, CNA/NNOC) is gone. Things may get quiet, but that could just mean their paid organizers have gone underground for awhile because they sensed the strong opposition of so many nurses. Don’t let down your guard: when it comes to scamming millions of dollars in dues out of nurses’ salaries, they are a persistent bunch.

  5. MKL RN October 23, 2013 at 21:58 #

    Is this whole mess coming to an end? Or has the union just booted everyone off their page that dared to question their information or tactics? Either way, I’m glad for the relief. I am not a “fence sitter” but rather someone who didn’t want the union but preferred not to spend my work hours discussing it. Hopefully I can work in peace if this is over. And if it’s not then I will be refusing to discuss it further. PASNAP stay away!!

    • Penny October 25, 2013 at 02:38 #

      It does seem to have died down, Are you saying the union fb page/group is no longer?

      • MKL RN October 25, 2013 at 07:21 #

        I don’t know. I just know my prounion coworkers are quieter about it and pointing fingers at what they call the fence sitters who wouldn’t sign.

  6. Antiunion October 18, 2013 at 08:44 #

    For those of you who still read the prounion facebook page, keep in mind that some of the people no longer work at RH. Ask yourself why they are so concerned or interested? And educate yourself about salting….

    • ConcernedRN October 18, 2013 at 19:23 #

      There was some good info posted about salting on the from nurses website. Makes you wonder who really works here and is dedicated to the hospital, and who is planted here, and being paid by PASNAP to do their dirty work. I can think of some salty nurses.

  7. Penny October 17, 2013 at 13:09 #

    There is a new video above only 2 min. Take a look how a union in Orlando brings members from other unions to a rally to make it appear as though they have a larger group !

    • ED RN October 17, 2013 at 13:46 #

      Are they professionals or middle aged cheerleaders? Oh my! I am embarrassed for them. I hope that doesn’t happen here. In no way does that enhance the reputation of the profession or the institution!

  8. Melissa RN October 17, 2013 at 12:15 #

    For those of you who asked about it today, here is the information about rescinding your signature.

    http://www.nrtw.org/faq/what-are-my-rights-if-union-conducting-card-check-organizing-drive-my-workplace

  9. JRW October 17, 2013 at 11:14 #

    I just left this afternoon’s meeting feeling very relieved that I am not alone in thinking a union is the wrong direction for our hospital. I am glad to know there are so many other nurses out there who share my concerns and have lots of questions about PASNAP’s motivation to try to unionize at Reading. I won’t be pressured into signing a petition and I am hoping my coworkers will have an easier time standing up to these bullies now that they see that most of us don’t want a union. I asked one of the main culprits on my unit how close we are to a vote and couldn’t even get a straight answer!! Anyway, thanks for the great information and I will be sharing all I learned with my coworkers who couldn’t make it!

    • Penny October 17, 2013 at 13:07 #

      Thank you for coming and for helping to share the information !

  10. Penny October 17, 2013 at 03:05 #

    Repost from RN Advocate 9/14 below well said !!!

    I can’t help but worry that there is an abundance of “here-say” about unions at Reading Hospital based on non-educated statements made by unhappy employees. I worry that employees are formulating certain opinions because some of their coworkers are doing it and they might be afraid to go against the grain, or they may have felt bullied by pro-union coworkers. I hear little knowledge of the facts coming from many mouths. Ask your organizing coworkers what’s in it for them? Are they benefitting monetarily by standing in the hallway “undercover” with a clip board instead of being at home with their kids? If they preach patient safety, what aspects of patient safety are guaranteed to improve with a union in place? There are no guarantees. There are facts and then there are promises, wishes, and goals that have no guarantee of ever coming to fruition despite requiring people to pay for union membership. I feel the need to point out some of the complaints I have heard and offer a different perspective. 1. Health insurance: Have you surveyed nurses at other hospitals or non-medical employees at large companies to compare our insurance to theirs? I know people who would love our insurance. We frequently pay less in copays and less for our medications. Our coverage is not bad and I feel blessed to have health insurance that I can afford, not like those who are self-employed and pay five times what we do. A nurse left our organization for higher pay, but came back for the benefits. What does that tell you? Higher pay may seem nice but not when benefits are five times more expensive. City hospitals take a large city wage tax out of paychecks, not to mention paying to park your car! I have three sisters-in-law who work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They pay approximately $858/year to park.
    2. Hospital layoffs, spending on building upkeep, and the new surgical tower: It’s a business! There are budgets to stick to and as needs change, its fiscally responsible to relook at staffing. Every company does this. We have to maintain and modernize our buildings to stay competitive or people will go elsewhere for their surgery. We also need to attract good doctors. Our area does not pay physicians as well as those closer to Philadelphia so it is hard to attract physicians. As far as the cafeteria, other hospitals have popular food franchises in their cafeterias, whereas we’ve been eating the same macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes for the last 12 years or more. Finally they want to make some positive changes with different food choices. Employees complained that they are renovating the kitchen and we now have a beautiful, new, modern cafeteria to sit in. I’ve heard people say that the money for that project could have been in their pocket, or that same money could have prevented a layoff. Do the people complaining have an MBA and know how to run large hospitals? Are they that selfish that they feel they are more deserving of an extra buck than the whole organization benefitting from a new and improved cafeteria?
    3. Retirement plan: Rarely does anyone get a pension these days. The hospital where I used to work did away with their pensions three years after I started working there and that was 13 years ago. Did they want to form a union as a result? No! We’ve been spoiled to have a great pension thus far and the new plan is not unlike most other companies. We have to contribute to our own retirement. It’s no one’s responsibility to give us free money, but the hospital is going to match a percentage of our contributions. I say thank you very much, RH!
    4. Our CNO: We have a great CNO. She has been actively getting to know our organization and is involved on a much more personal level. She sends us newsletters to tell us what unit she has spent time on most recently. She asks for our questions and our opinions via Town Hall meetings. Think how many surveys we have been asked to participate in so they have a handle on our level of satisfaction as employees.
    5. Our voice: So many people shy away from participating in Shared Governance. This is our voice! We make changes through our organizational councils. If we don’t participate, then what have we done to change anything? Why did we become nurses? Hopefully you realize how rewarding this profession can be. If you want a bigger impact, get involved in our local or state nursing organizations. Write to our legislators to illicit a response, or form or join a coalition. Most importantly, do your homework. Change takes time, but there has been huge, positive change here over the last 12 years. We are more technologically advanced than many hospitals. It’s called smart planning! Technology is not going away, so embrace it!
    6. PTO time: We are lucky to have so much PTO. Most companies give new staff a week or two of PTO the first five years of employment. PTO is not something I am willing to sacrifice for a slightly higher wage. I value my time off with my family.
    7. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I see underhanded, sneaky tactics by union reps to gain access to our meetings and fool staff into signing cards by acting concerned or promising they can help. Soliciting during work time is unacceptable. I don’t want to be approached by vultures pretending they care when they don’t even know me. We have every right to say no to these people. We have every right to call the police and report them if they are stalking us in the parking garage. No negotiation comes free. We might win a few dollars in salary, only to lose somewhere else such as fewer benefits, less PTO, or less tuition reimbursement. Go to http://www.allnurses.com and in the search box, type in Temple University Hospital. What you will find are nurses asking other nurses if Temple is a good place to work. You will find many accurate statements about politics that have occurred at Temple in recent years surrounding a strike in 2010. I haven’t read anything in current news that would make me want to go work in a union environment. Promises are easy to make for union reps because once they have our vote, our hands are tied. At that point, it’s a waiting game to see how it affects our pockets. If something were so good, why would they have to employ such sneaky tactics to lure us in? I have read literature on why unions are not a good choice. I debated this point as an assignment in one of my MSN classes. We heard both sides. I have heard plenty of testimony from former union employees who say they would never go back to that environment. I have yet to see the true benefits a union would have for our organization. We do not realize how good we have it at RH. Many of you may never have worked anywhere else to be able to compare. Why would you want to risk your job, compensation, and benefits for your family in the event of a strike? It puzzles me that anyone would be willing to take that risk.
    8. Complaints about our CEO: Who cares that he looks good, wears nice clothing, or drives a nice car. Wouldn’t you if you were a successful business person? Who cares how often you have seen him on our units? Do you think he’s not a busy person who has a lot on his plate? He is running a large, successful company. He chose to stay here in Reading, PA because he wanted to improve our hospital. He used to be one of us- he was a nurse! We could not have a better CEO on hand to advocate for Nursing. He knows what we do every day. Do you realize how many thousands of people work here? There’s no way we’re all going to see him that often. Apparently he’s not above eating a sandwich from the Tower Cafe and he spends enough time at work that his wife sometimes visits for lunch. I often see him on my way into the C-lobby in the morning. He is always friendly and holds the door for others. He looks and sounds like a regular person to me. Both he and our CNO welcome and are interested in our concerns. I have heard that they welcome emails and meetings if necessary if you felt that strongly about something.

    I felt the need to write this, not only because of the ignorance I see, but I am also bothered by the meanness, animosity created among peers, ungratefulness, and plain misery of some of the workers I hear complaining. Do you ever stop to realize and be thankful that you have a job, that you chose to work here, and you’ve been privileged to stay employed here? I’ve invested almost 12 years of my life working here and I truly have seen things change for the better. I have worked in other hospitals and other areas of Nursing, enough to know that the grass is not always greener. I feel strong enough about this issue to speak up, as we all have the right to share our opinions in this forum. I am from a blue collar, hard-working family, many of whom are in unions for various trades. Those tradespeople are dealing with pipes, toilets, bricks, electricity, glass, and carpentry- not people! They are not Nursing. Nurses are professionals who deal with people at the worst times in their lives. We save lives. We owe it to our patients to not share our personal qualms with our organization while we are caring for them. We owe it to our patients to be 100% invested in their care when we are on the clock, not soliciting others to join a union or lending our ears to solicitors. Our patients deserve happy, cheerful staff to care for them. If working at Reading Hospital doesn’t make you happy, then maybe it’s time to look at other places of employment so that your unhappiness doesn’t drain the life out of those of us who do want to be here, or better yet, challenge yourself to find a solution to your problems. As employees of Reading Hospital, we have been given the resources to make our own decisions and change based on evidence. There is no need to pay dues to have a big business try to negotiate change for us. The least we can do is educate ourselves so that we’re able to make informed decisions. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

    REPLY

  11. Penny October 17, 2013 at 03:03 #

    If you are not 100 % sure you want a union don’t sign !!!

    I have heard the signatures are good up to a year. Still looking for that in writing somewhere. But as the signing slows down the union will slow down and stop paying for meetings and stop paying to send their reps here to work with the pro union staff. So don’t sign and if you signed and want to rescind you can !!!
    http://www.nrtw.org/faq/what-are-my-rights-if-union-conducting-card-check-organizing-drive-my-workplace

    http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_9_letter.htm

  12. Melissa RN October 16, 2013 at 18:19 #

    For those who missed today’s Get Informed meeting I encourage you to attend tomorrow. The meeting was very helpful and informative and a good opportunity for colleagues to exchange professional dialogue and information. Lots of positive ideas being exchanged and respectful discussion. Go Nurses!

  13. Penny October 13, 2013 at 17:30 #

    Meetings for Reading Health System Nurses Oct 16th from 1600-1700 and Oct 17th from 0800-0900 and 1300-1400. All three meetings are at Homewood Suites next to Texas Road House ! See more details above !
    Come and show support for our efforts! Encourage staff to come too!! Everyone needs to be informed to help inform others !!!
    If you are not 100 % positive that you want a union don’t sign !! Wait until you are fully informed to make a decision

  14. A nurse who cares October 12, 2013 at 10:02 #

    The fact that PASNAP is not willing to put any “promises” in writing or in a public forum is very telling. The insinuation that administration is trying to get experienced employees to quit as a cost cutting measure is ridiculous. I have been encouraged to pursue my education, to climb the clinical ladder, and to voice my ideas. We don’t need PASNAP to work together as a group – as professionals let’s behave as such. Stop complaining and start brainstorming. Stop dividing and start collaborating. And so your research as to who PASNAP really is. The CNA has a very shady history – check out some of the legislation the CNA has backed.

    • We NEED PASNAP! October 13, 2013 at 18:33 #

      Do you really think that anything will happen without a union? People need to START signing and get the union in because THAT is the way to get our voices heard. Who cares about the CNA in California? And what guarantees do you have now? The union is coming – like it or not!

      • ConcernedRN October 16, 2013 at 06:11 #

        @We need PASNAP, no, we don’t need PASNAP. I hate to sound redundant and repeat every valid point these dedicated nurses have already made on this site as to why a union is not necessary, but obviously our message hasn’t swayed your opinion. Once again, there is no concrete reason provided in your comments except that it gives us a voice. We already have that with shared governance. Why nurses want to overlook this and ignore the positive change we have seen in favor of paying strangers to be their voice is something I do not comprehend. If you want a voice and want a change, be it! With a union, you are essentially saying “I want someone else to be my voice”…but does everyone who wants a union for different reasons realize you aren’t going to sit down personally with anyone to negotiate anything? No one is going to ask you what you want from a union. Once you have a union, you get what you get. Contract negotiations are not on an individual basis, nor do they happen quickly. Our voices are here now, they are being heard, they are loud, and they will accomplish things far greater than PASNAP ever could dream of. We are present in our workplace, ready to do what it takes to provide the best patient care while union advocates are openly running off the floor or going behind closed doors on their work time to obtain signatures. Those who are participating in this nonsense should be ashamed. Those openly complaining in hallways causing patients to lose faith in us should be ashamed. The grass is not greener at union hospitals. Do the research!

      • ConcernedRN October 16, 2013 at 06:31 #

        @weneedPASNAP: Who cares about CNA? PASNAP is a part of the CNA. So if CNA is bad news, so is PASNAP. Does anyone who is pro-union bother to look anything up or are they too busy complaining and looking for a stool to rest their feet? You aren’t going to get any breaks by joining a union. Look at media reports online…constant fighting, lawsuits, turmoil, strikes, violence…who needs the hassle? Is that what nurses are all about? I think nurses are devaluing their profession by seeking a union. You are causing patients and coworkers to question your expertise, your advanced education (for those that pursue it), and your level of professionalism (for those who choose to act like professionals) because of your choice to ignore shared governance and overlook everything we do have in favor of becoming a minion of PASNAP. Where is your voice then?? Professionals can work through problems together to find solutions. Unions only undermine our intelligence, make us appear inept, unions do not belong in nursing.

        • PASNAP proud October 16, 2013 at 07:17 #

          I have seen the propaganda posted by the Get Informed group. PASNAP is not the same as the CNA. All nursing unions work together to create a stronger voice, and on occasion Im sure CNA and PASNAP have joined forces. Strikes are rare and no one is being violent. It is hard getting people to sign when you are spreading these rumors. Lets unionize and show administration that they MUST listen to us. Higher wages, better benefits, and better staffing – it’s what we deserve!

          • ConcernedRN October 16, 2013 at 09:45 #

            @WeneedPASNAP: Hello, do you hear yourself? You sound like a broken recording courtesy of PASNAP. The facts about unions are posted so that people can educate themselves. I have yet to see any facts posted about how a union can benefit us. You all have the same canned responses that don’t contain any factual information. I personally don’t feel the need for a higher wage or better benefits. I am satisfied with what I have. I know that our management advocates for staffing but when volumes are high, and vacancy rates are high, and nurses are using FMLA frequently, what do you expect is going to happen? We are going to be busy. This is the field we chose. No one said it was going to be easy…that’s why it’s called work. Would you rather be one of the people in line at the unemployment office? Please before you wave your Pom poms for PASNAP, share with us the steps you have taken at work to correct the problems you vaguely elude to…starting with how you utilized shared governance. I am really interested because usually when I bring things to SG they are addressed. What solutions have you proposed to solve our problems before you decided for everyone that it would be better to spend more of my paycheck for someone to make suggestions to administration for you instead of you doing it yourself? Thanks.

          • Penny October 16, 2013 at 13:50 #

            http://stopunions.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Pasnap-is-the-CNA.pdf

            This document is posted above and clearly shows PASNAP and CNA are linked.

          • ConcernedRN October 16, 2013 at 16:29 #

            @PASNAPproud: These nurses are not spreading rumors, they are helping staff make informed decisions. Please see the proof provided that PASNAP is affiliated with the CNA. Being associated with CNA is not something I would be proud of. The hospital budget for nursing staff can be divided different ways. Hiring more staff, raising your wages, and giving you “better” benefits all costs a lot of money. What is going to be taken away from nursing so that the hospital can afford to grant your wishes? PTO time? Less increase when you challenge? Tuition reimbursement? Certification reimbursement? Do those things mean anything to you? I know many nurses who would not be happy to lose those privileges. For those who like to be considered professionals and who are dedicated to moving forward in this profession, many of us are willing to do what it takes to get the most out of our career. From what I can see, those contributing the least to this organization are demanding the most. Since you shared what you think you deserve, I’ll share that I deserve to work in a union free environment. I deserve to not have to hear staff complaining about salaries, comparing our wages to those in a large city which we are not living in. Have you priced real estate in Philly? You need to make more to afford to live there. Want to commute over an hour each way to work in a dirty city hospital? Be my guest…your SEPTA chariot awaits you. We have it pretty good at Reading. Our issues are not unlike other places. How disheartening that you would rather be owned by PASNAP then be a part of the Reading Hospital. Our hospital has a good reputation, but let PASNAP in and you can forget it. No contract suits everyone, which is why we don’t need one. I encourage pro-union staff to rethink why they became a nurse…why did you choose to work here and stay here? How have you made your work environment better, what have you done through your councils? Have you advanced in your profession? It’s not to late to change your mind and join the anti-union folks.

          • Melissa RN October 16, 2013 at 19:17 #

            Please do your research on the link between CNA and PASNAP. Misinformed posts to nothing to gain respect for your cause. They are linked and there is documentation above. See the PASNAP is the CNA link above. I will listen to facts from reliable sources. I will respect opinions that can be backed with facts. PASNAP has done nothing to convince me that a union would benefit anyone at our hospitals.

      • NICU RN October 16, 2013 at 18:00 #

        I BELIEVE IN THE STAFF at RH !
        I Believe you are smart and strong and CAN make CHANGE happen!
        RH staff .. do you want people speaking for you who do NOT believe in you? People who think the only way you can accomplish anything is by paying someone to speak for you? If they believe you have no power and cannot speak for yourselves do you truly believe they have your best interest at heart?
        “We NEED PASNAP” says that nothing will happen without a union.
        I believe in the staff at RH ! I believe YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
        i BELIEVE you can speak for yourself and make change happen!
        I BELIEVE YOU can make anything happen – TOGETHER – by speaking for yourself!

  15. Penny October 12, 2013 at 07:23 #

    Here is a new post that was toward the bottom of this page

    Grace October 11, 2013 at 19:06 #
    I completely agree with your comments, very well said. I have been with the Reading Hospital for close to 30 years, starting as a diploma grad, spending nearly 8 years to complete my BSN, and recently completing my MSN. For many years I worked in an environment that did not recognize each nurses talents. Rewards were evenly distributed and not based on professional advancement or professional contribution. Professional advancement was not encouraged. Boy have we come a long way. My fear is that a union will be a HUGE step backward where reward will be based on seniority not on what the nurse contributions to the organization.

  16. Penny October 11, 2013 at 04:42 #

    Meetings for Reading Health System Nurses Oct 16th from 1600-1700 and Oct 17th from 0800-0900 and 1300-1400. All three meetings are at Homewood Suites next to Texas Road House ! See more details above !
    Come and show support for our efforts! Encourage staff to come too!! Everyone needs to be informed to help inform others !!!
    If you are not 100 % positive that you want a union don’t sign !! Wait until you are fully informed to make a decision !

  17. NICU RN October 8, 2013 at 20:11 #

    It is time to STAND TOGETHER and voice your BELIEF that nurses at RH are professional, caring, and smart! We worked hard to become nurses, we believe in our profession, we believe in ourselves! TOGETHER we can find solutions for any challenge! It is time to SPEAK UP and let others know that you believe in SMART SOLUTIONS ! Together we will focus on positive outcomes through professional commitment to ourselves and our patients! STAND UP for what you believe in ! Stand TOGETHER and let others know you believe in RH, you believe in yourself, you believe in one another and you know that together we can accomplish just about anything – we do NOT need to pay others for what we can do ourselves !!!

  18. R3e RN October 8, 2013 at 09:22 #

    Would any prounion staff like to post the guarantees the union will make us in writing? Here is your opportunity….what pay raise will you guarantee in the first contract? What staffing ratios can you promise? If the union strikes will you support my family? Can you guarantee no layoffs? Will you promise better patient outcomes? Can you promise me that I will not be held back from pay raises or promotions because someone else has more seniority then me? Can you put it in writing that union stewards will not receive “super seniority?” Do you promise that I will not be fined or harassed if I cross the picket line to take care of our community? How about guaranteeing that dues will not be increased without my approval? Will you promise that salaries and expenses of union officers won’t be increased without a union member vote? What will you promise me for over 3 million dollars? I would like concrete promises – not vague promises of a “voice” because I have that already.

    • ConcernedRN October 8, 2013 at 11:33 #

      Well stated, R3E RN!! There are no promises a union can make. It’s a huge gamble with not only our paychecks, our health insurance, other benefits, tuition reimbursement, etc. Why put our patients, our families, and ourselves at risk?

  19. R3e RN October 8, 2013 at 08:51 #

    Don’t be fooled by the WE are the union pleas. The union IS a third party. WE are Reading Hospital nurses – professionals who can have a collective voice without paying a THIRD PARTY millions. As others have stated – our workplace is not perfect. But adding a third party to communicate and negotiate for us will not solve problems that are universal to today’s health care environment. RH employs many talented health care professionals. Do not sign a petition unless you want to sign away your ability to collaborate and communicate with hospital leadership to make our work environment better. The union will not do this for us – PASNAP see dollar signs, not intelligent compassionate professional nurses who can advocate for themselves and their patients WITHOUT the expense and confines of a union.

  20. Penny October 4, 2013 at 15:09 #

    The person that runs this site is a critical care nurse from a hospital in California. Contact him through this site via email if you want to ask him questions. He helped keep a union out of the hospital he works at and started this webpage to help others ! Great guy very knowledgeable !

  21. Penny October 4, 2013 at 05:19 #

    The From Nurses For Nurses group of Reading Hospital nurses do realize things are not perfect at Reading but strongly feel a union will not help ! Is there a perfect workplace?? NO!

    • NICU RN October 5, 2013 at 23:13 #

      Sooooo True! There is no perfection, RH is NOT perfect … can we get better ? YES WE CAN without paying a third party … will it ever be perfect – no – but if we pull together and work together instead of against one another we can make it better! We do NOT need a union to speak and act for us WE CAN DO IT ! if a union is such a positive thing why are so many of their supporters being so negative? Find the positives and work to create more positives ! I believe we can make our work place great ourselves !

      • Melissa RN October 6, 2013 at 07:32 #

        The union does not give us a voice – it takes the voice of nursing away. Why pay someone to speak for us? We are educated professionals. Lets work together to find solutions.

  22. Independent thinker October 3, 2013 at 19:57 #

    I saw some posts today that bothered me. CC on e2 – please do not speak for us as a unit. There a several of us that are not signing because we do NOT want a union. We will not vote yes if there is a vote. You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that but please do not speak for us as a unit. If I wanted someone to speak for me, I would have signed the PASNAP (CNA) petition.

    • Penny October 4, 2013 at 05:15 #

      Well said! They say those things to pressure others into thinking everyone wants a union! Which is absolutely not true !!! The more people I talk to the more I find out all that do not want a union !! If you don’t want a union you are not alone !!! Don’t sign to get them off your back we have as much right not to sign and to file harrassment charges against them if they do not leave you alone !

    • Union Free!! October 4, 2013 at 07:08 #

      Some of the prounion staff are trying to inflate their numbers by saying that people are afraid to sign, that they will vote yes if an election takes place. Don’t feel pressured. There are many of us that do not want a union. The fastest way to get PASNAP to back down is to let your voice be heard. It has been months already with no vote – let’s put an end to PASNAPs presence by letting the organizers know that those who haven’t signed will not be swayed. Go nurses!

      • Penny October 4, 2013 at 14:57 #

        So true ! We have a strong large group of staff that do not want a union what we need now is to do exactly what the post above says let everyone know if you are not interested ! In August I felt like everyone wanted a union. As I started talking to staff and presenting facts about unions it is clear the nurses at Reading do not want a union!
        The best thing to do now is encourage staff not to sign just to get the vocal pro union staff to leave them alone. Don’t sign unless you want a union. If you signed and want to rescind call me !

        • Melissa RN October 5, 2013 at 12:32 #

          I have talked to quite a few people who clearly do not want a union and are tired of hearing about it. The quickest way to get PASNAP/CNA out of Reading Hospital is to speak up and voice your opinion. Once they realize they are putting money into a fruitless effort they will reduce their support. Make your opinion known so we can focus on RHS nurses leading change – not a union!

  23. Penny October 3, 2013 at 16:55 #

    Remember, staffing ratios are not a mandatory bargaining subject. A union will not get a staffing ratio mandated in the hospital. Most of the things I hear from the pro union staff are concerning staffing. How will a union help that? What we need is an acuity system to assist with assigning patients by acuity level. There is an acuity system available in a future release of EPIC. we are in the process of looking at this and seeing if it can be implemented in the release we have now.

  24. Sherwood October 1, 2013 at 08:41 #

    In answer to this question:

    ED RN September 30, 2013 at 22:11 # Edit

    Question: If I rescind my signature, will the prounion employees know that I did so? Or is it anonymous? I have to work with these people and while I know that intimidation is not supposed to happen, it is very uncomfortable to work with some of them f you are on different sides of the fence.”

    I would have to say yes, the pro-union employees could eventually find out because one of the reps will rat you out……OR on the other hand the union may not want anyone to know how many people are rescinding their cards and they could keep that a secret.

    It is sad that pro-union colleagues cannot remain adult and professional and allow you your right to your opinion without fear of retaliation or intimidation.

    • ED RN October 1, 2013 at 14:03 #

      Thanks for your candid answer. For now, if it comes to a vote, I can still anonymously vote NO even though I signed a petition, right? My coworkers and I heard they aren’t even close to having enough signatures, so we are waiting to rescind and trying to avoid further animosity. I appreciate your help!

      • Sherwood October 1, 2013 at 18:10 #

        That’s the beauty of the secret ballot. You vote your conscience without FEAR OF RETALIATION or INTIMIDATION.
        If the unions had their way, they would lie and intimidate enough people into signing cards then try to railroad your employer into a card check election.

    • ConcernedRN October 1, 2013 at 20:49 #

      ED RN, it should not be uncomfortable to be at work. If it is, these people are violating your rights and you need to take their names to HR to file a grievance. Please don’t let yourself be bullied, harassed, or coerced by others. We are all entitled to our opinions but to let this affect our working relationships and compromise patient care is going too far. I am saddened by how unprofessional our professionals have become. It is a shame that these behaviors are tolerated but if no one reports them, they cannot be dealt with. It’s a shame for our patients as well that the people caring for them have their minds on dollar signs instead of on improving care. When is the last time you heard a nurse say, “thank you, PASNAP, I owe my great patient care to you?” PASNAP doesn’t provide safe care, WE do. WE the nurses and respiratory therapists, PCAs, nutrition, housekeeping…WE provide safety, nutrition, clear airways, clean environments, and WE satisfy patients. PASNAP holds the collection plate. Thinking about an extra relaxing getaway, more presents for your kids this Christmas, a new appliance for your home? Sorry, if we vote in the union, PASNAP will be taking that money to pay their own employees to “represent” themselves and recruit more followers. If PASNAP is an honest group of people concerned with your welfare, why would they lie to our employees, having them sign pieces of paper saying “it’s not a card, it’s only informational?” Indeed many signed who did not mean to because PASNAP failed to educate those who signed. Luckily the website provided by loyal nurses tells you how to get your name off. I would not hesitate to expedite the process of rescinding your signature.

      • ED RN October 2, 2013 at 03:33 #

        They are posting comments on a “secret” Facebook site so Im not sure I can report that? Yes, it is in writing with their names attached, but it is a group that can only be viewed by its members. Antiunion people are being called rats, jackasses, and idiots. And I don’t know if they will notice if I just leave the group, causing me to be treated differently at work. All I can say is if you have not signed a petition, don’t do it!!!! If it comes to a vote, mine is NO. I truly hope this doesn’t happen. RH is not perfect, no employer is. Nurses across the country are facing challenges right now. But PASNAP (or CNA – scary!) is tearing us apart, not helping us work together. PASNAP/CNA – you are NOT welcome. Please leave so we can keep our focus on patient care.

        • ConcernedRN October 2, 2013 at 10:53 #

          To ED RN, I’m sorry your coworkers have disappointed you with their lack of professionalism and childish name-calling. We must all question the integrity, morals, and judgement of such people and hope that whatever drives them to be so unpleasant resolves itself in their lives. I would recommend that those individuals seek help or seek other employment if our hospital has made them so bitter that they feel the need to put down those who utilize professional communication, councils, and evidence to influence change in our workplace. Soliciting misinformation on street corners, and disguising themselves in meetings are dishonest approaches that union reps have used to do their dirty work. Soliciting staff while they are working is also wrong. There are nurses fighting to remain union-free, researching the facts (none of which reveal that a union is a good choice), and keeping staff informed not because they are getting paid (because they aren’t) but because they believe in the organization and it’s leaders. They believe in the staff and they are confident we can accomplish change without paying a third party. They are correct in my opinion. I have heard their private FB page is non-educational, and essentially is a huge complaint board for unhappy staff. Their page should be open to everyone so that those who are on the fence can see how close-minded these individuals are. Mark Twain once said “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.” If the pro-union group can’t be “public” so they can verbalize the reasons a union is so great, rather they hide behind lame name calling and meaningless threats, spewing complaint after complaint, maybe they need to consider how Twain’s quote applies to them. Again, it saddens me that healthcare professionals are causing such feelings of unease among their coworkers. You are not alone in your feelings, and those responsible should feel ashamed of their unprofessional behavior.

          • ED RN October 2, 2013 at 11:41 #

            Thank you concernedRN. It is helpful just knowing that there are others who feel that this union campaign is an insult to our intelligence and profession. I hope that those who are so angry and bitter are able to find more satisfying employment elsewhere or better alternatives to improving their work environment. In the meantime, thanks for the support!

  25. Melissa RN September 27, 2013 at 07:28 #

    Clint Matthews rounded on some nursing units yesterday – an opportunity to share concerns and get informed with our CEO. It seems he is interested in professional dialogue and improving communication to me.

    • Penny September 27, 2013 at 15:57 #

      Agreed, he has always been very approachable when I see him in the halls and cafeteria.

  26. Professional Advocate September 24, 2013 at 12:10 #

    I’ve noticed that a common union tactic is to answer a question with a question. When I asked for written guarantees, I was asked what guarantees do you have now? Well, what guarantees do I have with a union? Third party representation, dues, etc. No thank you.

    • Melissa RN September 28, 2013 at 18:02 #

      Make sure you ask lots of questions. And ask for a verifiable source for the answers you receive. Don’t just assume what you are being told is true – check it out for yourself! If you cannot find the answers to your questions, email fromnurses4you@gmail.com – they will help!

      • Penny October 1, 2013 at 18:14 #

        Things posted on our website http://www.fromnursesfornurses.com have links to where we found the information so you can read it for yourself. The pro staff will say Pasnap told them and that’s how they know……….ask for it in writing !! Pasnap will say what they want people to hear and tell half truths !

  27. No Union Nurse September 23, 2013 at 22:34 #

    I just visited the “work” Facebook page for the first time in forever. I am sad that my coworkers are so frustrated and angry. Sadder still that they cannot use their energy to better our workplace and profession. On the bright side, their recent behavior and comments have helped me to make my decision: NO UNION! Thank you for this informative and professional site.

  28. ConcernedRN September 22, 2013 at 21:56 #

    LK, you should not feel pressured by coworkers to share your stance. Please report these people, as that is harassment, bullying, horizontal violence, or whatever politically correct term you choose to call it. Bottom line is if their words make you feel uncomfortable at work and the words are spoken to you, you have grounds to file a grievance. I recommend this site to use as a reference if you want to know more because there are valuable links to facts posted here. Also, the personal opinions of some whom I know, are based on years of experience, and references to facts are provided in case you wonder where the information is coming from. I have yet to see such valuable information on any other source. I have found union supporters to be severely lacking in concrete evidence of the results that unions can achieve, but that’s because they can’t guarantee anything during union negotiations. Only a nurse or two may be present while the union lawyer negotiates for you and you do not get to speak at that time. I feel for those who seem brainwashed by union promises, and those who claim to love their jobs but seem to have very negative descriptions of the job itself. Have those people met professionally with leadership to discuss possible solutions to the problems they face, or do they just complain nonstop and feel that they are entitled to publicly berate the job they love so much so that they can get a handful of coworkers to “like” what they say and add their negative two cents? This is what some refer to as a “cancer” on the unit…it keeps spreading the negativity instead of trying to improve the situation in a professional manner. Is that person a leader, a positive role model, a change agent, or just a disgruntled employee? I like to simplify concepts and use analogies so everyone can understand. What does it say about someone who wants to hide behind a union in order to feel they have a voice? Do they want to go to bat for their team? Sounds like they want someone else to go to bat…someone who is not on our team. People who want a union are complaining about one big business (the hospital), but it’s ok to hire another big business (the CNA…oops I mean their affiliate PASNAP) to determine where their money goes. The coach (the administration) has paid for batting lessons, pitching lessons, held extra practices, and the team improved a bit but still has a way to go. A handful of people don’t want to go to bat, so the whole team has to pitch in some money to hire new batters. If I were on that team, I would ask the current members to bat or go find another team. I would not want to have to pay to play just because some team members don’t feel like batting. This site is extremely informative for our hitters as well as our benchwarmers. I am proud to work with people who want to keep us informed to make sure we know the facts.

  29. NICU RN September 22, 2013 at 21:01 #

    You say you want change…
    You can achieve it by working together!
    You say you want a voice…
    Why pay someone to speak for you?
    Speak for yourself – don’t give your voice away!
    You say you deserve higher wages…
    Consider relevancy of pay and locale
    Higher pay scales are often within higher cost-of-living areas
    Evaluate the extra bonuses received such as education reimbursement
    You say you want more time with your patients, that more nurses are needed
    There is a nursing shortage – how can we best attract nurses ?
    by creating a friendly, high energy atmosphere where people want to work
    by working together to find solutions within our facility
    I say you are smart
    There are problems, you see those problems, take time to get informed!
    Realize that the only people who really care about us are us
    If you pay someone to speak for you – do they truly care about you?
    Why wouldn’t you want to speak for yourself?
    If power comes in unity then we should band together to find solutions ourselves
    We can do this together, as a facility
    We can seek solutions together as people who care about our patients & future
    We are smart – we do not need to pay someone to think and speak for us
    We can do this TOGETHER!

    • LK September 23, 2013 at 11:51 #

      Agreed! Let’s act like professionals and speak for ourselves.

    • Penny September 23, 2013 at 19:58 #

      Yes we can !! Go Nurses!

    • No Union Nurse September 24, 2013 at 08:26 #

      I agree! The name calling, avoidance of the facts, and promises that will never be filled are tiresome. Lets work together to speak for ourselves. Go Nurses! I think the PASNAP advocates are very vocal but few in number. Some of them have left or are leaving the hospital. If there was more support they would have already petitioned for a vote. We need to speak our minds and let the others who do not want a union know that they are not alone. Do not let a few opinionated employees silence or intimidate you. We have every right to stand up against union intimidation, every right to be informed, and every right to remain union free. Get the facts!

  30. LK September 22, 2013 at 08:11 #

    How close is the union to a vote? I’ve been hearing about this for months but why is it taking so long to vote these people out?

    • Penny September 22, 2013 at 12:06 #

      not sure how close they may be. I do know there are a lot of nurses that do not want the union !

    • Claro September 25, 2013 at 18:55 #

      It’s taking so long because the union is trying to trick enough people into signing those cards. The more cards collected the closer it gets them filing for a vote date.
      The goal is to educate the staff well enough that the union never collects enough cards, gives up and goes away. YAY! A win for you.

      • Jilly September 26, 2013 at 04:07 #

        So it’s a good thing that it is taking so long? It’s been months. Why is it a secret how many signatures they have? I have asked this question and receive evasive answers, leading me to think they are nowhere close. How long can they keep trying?

        • Penny September 27, 2013 at 03:21 #

          I have heard the signatures are good up to a year. Still looking for that in writing somewhere. But as the signing slows down the union will slow down and stop paying for meetings and stop paying to send their reps here to work with the pro union staff. So don’t sign and if you signed and want to rescind you can !!!
          http://www.nrtw.org/faq/what-are-my-rights-if-union-conducting-card-check-organizing-drive-my-workplace

          http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_9_letter.htm

          • ED RN September 30, 2013 at 22:11 #

            Question: If I rescind my signature, will the prounion employees know that I did so? Or is it anonymous? I have to work with these people and while I know that intimidation is not supposed to happen, it is very uncomfortable to work with some of them f you are on different sides of the fence.

  31. LK September 22, 2013 at 08:03 #

    I am tired of my coworkers insinuating that I am anti-union because I am “scared to stand up to the hospital.” I am not scared at all. I strongly believe that the union is only after our money, that their promises are empty, and that my voice is stronger when it is unfiltered by a third party! I am not afraid to stand up to them or to PASNAP. I am not afraid to learn the facts.

  32. Penny September 20, 2013 at 17:12 #

    The nurses will be having meeting soon to share information that can help you decide for yourself if you want a union in Reading Hospital. We must be educated so we can share the knowledge with our co-workers ! Don’t sign anything unless you want a union!. If a salesman came to your door and said all your friends are signing up for something would you just sign and pay money or would you ask questions and find the facts? We will show you where you can get information for yourself. Even with a union the hospital can and will run their business !

    • Jilly September 26, 2013 at 06:58 #

      When are the meetings? If it was already posted, I missed it.

  33. Jackie September 20, 2013 at 07:17 #

    Go nurses! Lets get PASNAP outta here! I am tired of the childish comments on social media. Lets put our focus back where it belongs – on our profession and our patients.

  34. Lucy September 19, 2013 at 19:28 #

    Why do people think they need to pay a union 3 million dollars to advocate for change?

  35. E1 nurse September 19, 2013 at 10:25 #

    I work on a floor that has been “brainwashed” by PASNAP and its puppets. Ask yourselves how long some of these vocal prounion employees have even worked at RH. If its so wonderful at PASNAP hospitals why don’t they just switch jobs…oh, wait! Some of them already are leaving!! Hmmmmm….

    • Penny September 19, 2013 at 18:58 #

      E1 Nurse,

      I have heard that E1 has strong pro union voices but if you or anyone else on your unit do not want the union you are not alone!! Please if you need help or information let us know ! Don’t be pressured into signing their petition which is in turn the same as a union card ! If you don’t want a union or are not sure don’t sign until you are sure you want a union. Get information. If you know you don’t want it and feel you are being harassed or bullied you can report them. They should not be bothering you while you are working. If you are on break they can approach you just tell them I am not interested leave me alone ! If you signed and want to rescind it you can ! Check the NRTW website or contact us we will help you.

      http://www.nrtw.org/faq/what-are-my-rights-if-union-conducting-card-check-organizing-drive-my-workplace

      http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_9_letter.htm

  36. Melissa RN September 19, 2013 at 09:18 #

    I am willing to respect that we may have different opinions about the union. Personally, I have invested significant time in researching and investigating the pros and cons, and I don’t feel that PASNAP needs to represent any part of my professional practice. I don’t need to pay a third party to represent me with my employer. What does bother me is that some people are forming opinions based on rumors and misinformation. Don’t believe anyone’s “promises” unless they can back them up with written, factual information. We owe it to ourselves to examine both sides of the union story. It was an eye opener for me and I firmly believe that Unionization is not in the best interest of my patients or my coworkers. Form your own opinion – just make sure it is an educated one!

  37. Karen RN September 17, 2013 at 18:30 #

    I have worked on both sides of the fence in a union environment for 19 years before coming to Reading hospital. I was a staff nurse and then a manager. As a staff nurse the union did nothing for us except take our money. We had mandatory overtime and even though after a long battle, it was taken away, so were other things and a clause was put in the contract that management had the right to do what was needed so even though the word mandating was not used, staff still had to stay or it was abandonment!! The union could not and would not step in. During negotiations, we didnt get anything without something being taken away. From the management end, the union never helped employees when they were the advocate for a peer– for example, someone calls out suck eight times in a twelve month period meant bringing that employee in and disciplining based on steps of a process– the advocate may try to talk their way out of it with excuses for the employee but in the end, the bottom line was they went against policy and the discipline stuck. Another example would be the union rep just sitting there not saying anything when an employee was accused of hitting a patient– didnt try to save their job– employee was terminated. With this being said, a union will tell you they will take care of you but in the end it is managements right to do what needs to be done. Clauses are written in contracts for a reason–hospitals are a people based business where people entrust their lives to everyday not a factory where clothes are made. Why would Reading nurses want to jeopardize the open communication that occurs everyday with their management team? Imagine not being able to talk to your manager about issues without a union rep being there? Open communication is important and the key to any relationship so why risk that going away? And yes, our pensions were taken away without a fight from the union!! And no matching contribution from the hospital either if we contributed to a 403b!! Think before you sign a card!!!!

  38. Lisa RN September 16, 2013 at 17:46 #

    I signed a petition without knowing all the facts, and I really regret it now, as do some of my coworkers. Is there anyway to cancel our signatures? The more I learn, the less I want a union.

    • Sherwood September 16, 2013 at 18:03 #

      if you signed a card in error, were mislead into signing a card or you have changed your mind and want to have your signed card revoked, you can request this be done. Click the links I am adding to go the NRTW website for information and instructions on how to have your card revoked.

      http://www.nrtw.org/faq/what-are-my-rights-if-union-conducting-card-check-organizing-drive-my-workplace

      http://www.nrtw.org/a/a_9_letter.htm

      I hope this helps. The sooner you take care of this the better.

      Sherwood Cox, RN, CCRN

      • Professional Advocate September 24, 2013 at 12:16 #

        Thanks for posting this Sherwood. I’m going to see if some of my coworkers are interested in pursuing this option. As the campaign gets uglier, I think they are seeing the light!

  39. Penny September 16, 2013 at 16:32 #

    Hospital vote Union won by 1 vote !! See the Little Mary Link on this site !!! 80 nurses didn’t vote.

  40. Mickey RN September 15, 2013 at 07:11 #

    Working at Reading Hospital is my first job as an RN. I am VERY happy in my job and with my co-workers. I LOVE what I do. I have never worked for a union-based hospital and I don’t intend to start any time soon. I know my husband’s experiences with unions – getting forced off city jobs because he worked for a non-union shop and the union didn’t get the job. The union members aggressively approached and threatened him and his co-workers, damaged vehicles, etc. Why should the union shop have anymore right to work a job than a non-union shop? They need food on their tables too. Regardless of their actions, they were told by the union to go to these sites and protest and hopefully take away the job from other hard-working people.

    I contend that the unions are responsible for MANY companies pulling up stakes and going overseas or to Mexico. The wages were forced up through “bargaining” and the companies could no longer make a profit. US automakers have many of their parts (and cars) made overseas because they could no longer afford to pay the US worker and keep competitive with the foreign automakers.

    I was a payroll manager for many years and had to collect and pay the union dues to the unions on behalf of the employees. The maintenance people at several of the malls (Colorado and Texas and a few others) made only $7 or $8 per hour and had a percentage taken out of their checks for the union. What was the union really doing for them at $7 or $8 an hour? Absolutely nothing. These employees still had to pay for their share of benefits and some even had child support taken out as well??? Unions can promise you the world but in the end will give you nothing.

    Teachers are the only people that seem to benefit from a union – WE certainly don’t benefit from it (our school taxes have more than doubled in the 15 years we have lived in our township) – but the teachers sure do!!! Our children need an education so they have an immense bargaining chip to get what they want. My friends are teachers and I hear a LOT. Several years back I heard, “Oh we have to start paying for part of our healthcare now”…as everyone else in the working community has done for years and years and years. They also get their summer’s off, a fat pension, and an early retirement. Boo hoo for them.

    Unions had their place in the early 1900s when it came to the treatment of coal miners by the mine owners and had to pay rent to the owners and buy groceries from the owner’s stores, Those days are over. Unions have no business in healthcare. Don’t we have enough rules, regulations and people to answer to???? Our job is ALL about the patients and hopefully facilitating a positive outcome for them. Don’t let a union come between you and that…

    • N bldg RN September 15, 2013 at 10:29 #

      Yes Mickey!! Let’a keep it all about the patients. Go Nurses!

  41. N bldg RN September 14, 2013 at 20:20 #

    Thank you so much for your efforts to keep our hospital Union FREE. We don’t need a third party involved in our interactions with each other and administration. Anyone who thinks the union is there to improve patient care is misinformed. The union will look out for themselves once they get in. Lets make sure this doesn’t happen by speaking up and letting PASNAP know that Reading Hospital will remain pro-patient and pro-nursing and anti-union. GO NURSES!!

  42. Penny September 14, 2013 at 17:53 #

    Check out the http://www.fromnursesfornurses.com website for more information from Reading Hospital Nurses !

  43. Penny September 14, 2013 at 11:46 #

    Click on the Little Company of Mary Medical Center at the top of these comments, scroll down a bit and view the video they made of nurses opinions of union organizing ! Awesome ! Many nurses at Reading feel the same way !

  44. RH RN September 14, 2013 at 11:28 #

    Well said RN advocate. I could not agree more!

  45. RN Advocate September 14, 2013 at 09:59 #

    I can’t help but worry that there is an abundance of “here-say” about unions at Reading Hospital based on non-educated statements made by unhappy employees. I worry that employees are formulating certain opinions because some of their coworkers are doing it and they might be afraid to go against the grain, or they may have felt bullied by pro-union coworkers. I hear little knowledge of the facts coming from many mouths. Ask your organizing coworkers what’s in it for them? Are they benefitting monetarily by standing in the hallway “undercover” with a clip board instead of being at home with their kids? If they preach patient safety, what aspects of patient safety are guaranteed to improve with a union in place? There are no guarantees. There are facts and then there are promises, wishes, and goals that have no guarantee of ever coming to fruition despite requiring people to pay for union membership. I feel the need to point out some of the complaints I have heard and offer a different perspective. 1. Health insurance: Have you surveyed nurses at other hospitals or non-medical employees at large companies to compare our insurance to theirs? I know people who would love our insurance. We frequently pay less in copays and less for our medications. Our coverage is not bad and I feel blessed to have health insurance that I can afford, not like those who are self-employed and pay five times what we do. A nurse left our organization for higher pay, but came back for the benefits. What does that tell you? Higher pay may seem nice but not when benefits are five times more expensive. City hospitals take a large city wage tax out of paychecks, not to mention paying to park your car! I have three sisters-in-law who work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They pay approximately $858/year to park.
    2. Hospital layoffs, spending on building upkeep, and the new surgical tower: It’s a business! There are budgets to stick to and as needs change, its fiscally responsible to relook at staffing. Every company does this. We have to maintain and modernize our buildings to stay competitive or people will go elsewhere for their surgery. We also need to attract good doctors. Our area does not pay physicians as well as those closer to Philadelphia so it is hard to attract physicians. As far as the cafeteria, other hospitals have popular food franchises in their cafeterias, whereas we’ve been eating the same macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes for the last 12 years or more. Finally they want to make some positive changes with different food choices. Employees complained that they are renovating the kitchen and we now have a beautiful, new, modern cafeteria to sit in. I’ve heard people say that the money for that project could have been in their pocket, or that same money could have prevented a layoff. Do the people complaining have an MBA and know how to run large hospitals? Are they that selfish that they feel they are more deserving of an extra buck than the whole organization benefitting from a new and improved cafeteria?
    3. Retirement plan: Rarely does anyone get a pension these days. The hospital where I used to work did away with their pensions three years after I started working there and that was 13 years ago. Did they want to form a union as a result? No! We’ve been spoiled to have a great pension thus far and the new plan is not unlike most other companies. We have to contribute to our own retirement. It’s no one’s responsibility to give us free money, but the hospital is going to match a percentage of our contributions. I say thank you very much, RH!
    4. Our CNO: We have a great CNO. She has been actively getting to know our organization and is involved on a much more personal level. She sends us newsletters to tell us what unit she has spent time on most recently. She asks for our questions and our opinions via Town Hall meetings. Think how many surveys we have been asked to participate in so they have a handle on our level of satisfaction as employees.
    5. Our voice: So many people shy away from participating in Shared Governance. This is our voice! We make changes through our organizational councils. If we don’t participate, then what have we done to change anything? Why did we become nurses? Hopefully you realize how rewarding this profession can be. If you want a bigger impact, get involved in our local or state nursing organizations. Write to our legislators to illicit a response, or form or join a coalition. Most importantly, do your homework. Change takes time, but there has been huge, positive change here over the last 12 years. We are more technologically advanced than many hospitals. It’s called smart planning! Technology is not going away, so embrace it!
    6. PTO time: We are lucky to have so much PTO. Most companies give new staff a week or two of PTO the first five years of employment. PTO is not something I am willing to sacrifice for a slightly higher wage. I value my time off with my family.
    7. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I see underhanded, sneaky tactics by union reps to gain access to our meetings and fool staff into signing cards by acting concerned or promising they can help. Soliciting during work time is unacceptable. I don’t want to be approached by vultures pretending they care when they don’t even know me. We have every right to say no to these people. We have every right to call the police and report them if they are stalking us in the parking garage. No negotiation comes free. We might win a few dollars in salary, only to lose somewhere else such as fewer benefits, less PTO, or less tuition reimbursement. Go to http://www.allnurses.com and in the search box, type in Temple University Hospital. What you will find are nurses asking other nurses if Temple is a good place to work. You will find many accurate statements about politics that have occurred at Temple in recent years surrounding a strike in 2010. I haven’t read anything in current news that would make me want to go work in a union environment. Promises are easy to make for union reps because once they have our vote, our hands are tied. At that point, it’s a waiting game to see how it affects our pockets. If something were so good, why would they have to employ such sneaky tactics to lure us in? I have read literature on why unions are not a good choice. I debated this point as an assignment in one of my MSN classes. We heard both sides. I have heard plenty of testimony from former union employees who say they would never go back to that environment. I have yet to see the true benefits a union would have for our organization. We do not realize how good we have it at RH. Many of you may never have worked anywhere else to be able to compare. Why would you want to risk your job, compensation, and benefits for your family in the event of a strike? It puzzles me that anyone would be willing to take that risk.
    8. Complaints about our CEO: Who cares that he looks good, wears nice clothing, or drives a nice car. Wouldn’t you if you were a successful business person? Who cares how often you have seen him on our units? Do you think he’s not a busy person who has a lot on his plate? He is running a large, successful company. He chose to stay here in Reading, PA because he wanted to improve our hospital. He used to be one of us- he was a nurse! We could not have a better CEO on hand to advocate for Nursing. He knows what we do every day. Do you realize how many thousands of people work here? There’s no way we’re all going to see him that often. Apparently he’s not above eating a sandwich from the Tower Cafe and he spends enough time at work that his wife sometimes visits for lunch. I often see him on my way into the C-lobby in the morning. He is always friendly and holds the door for others. He looks and sounds like a regular person to me. Both he and our CNO welcome and are interested in our concerns. I have heard that they welcome emails and meetings if necessary if you felt that strongly about something.

    I felt the need to write this, not only because of the ignorance I see, but I am also bothered by the meanness, animosity created among peers, ungratefulness, and plain misery of some of the workers I hear complaining. Do you ever stop to realize and be thankful that you have a job, that you chose to work here, and you’ve been privileged to stay employed here? I’ve invested almost 12 years of my life working here and I truly have seen things change for the better. I have worked in other hospitals and other areas of Nursing, enough to know that the grass is not always greener. I feel strong enough about this issue to speak up, as we all have the right to share our opinions in this forum. I am from a blue collar, hard-working family, many of whom are in unions for various trades. Those tradespeople are dealing with pipes, toilets, bricks, electricity, glass, and carpentry- not people! They are not Nursing. Nurses are professionals who deal with people at the worst times in their lives. We save lives. We owe it to our patients to not share our personal qualms with our organization while we are caring for them. We owe it to our patients to be 100% invested in their care when we are on the clock, not soliciting others to join a union or lending our ears to solicitors. Our patients deserve happy, cheerful staff to care for them. If working at Reading Hospital doesn’t make you happy, then maybe it’s time to look at other places of employment so that your unhappiness doesn’t drain the life out of those of us who do want to be here, or better yet, challenge yourself to find a solution to your problems. As employees of Reading Hospital, we have been given the resources to make our own decisions and change based on evidence. There is no need to pay dues to have a big business try to negotiate change for us. The least we can do is educate ourselves so that we’re able to make informed decisions. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

    • Penny September 14, 2013 at 11:42 #

      Thank you RN advocate ! I also work at Reading Hospital and I agree with everything you said ! Very well put ! Go Reading Hospital Nurses !!!

    • NICU RN September 15, 2013 at 09:37 #

      Thank You !!! Thought-provoking !!! 100% agree !!!

    • Melissa RN September 19, 2013 at 09:22 #

      RN advocate – beautifully stated. Our patients deserve the best – we have a hard enough job without the union. Lets keep OUR voices advocating for the way we care for our patients!

    • PACU RN September 21, 2013 at 10:47 #

      B R A V O !!!!!!!!!

    • Grace October 11, 2013 at 19:06 #

      I completely agree with your comments, very well said. I have been with the Reading Hospital for close to 30 years, starting as a diploma grad, spending nearly 8 years to complete my BSN, and recently completing my MSN. For many years I worked in an environment that did not recognize each nurses talents. Rewards were evenly distributed and not based on professional advancement or professional contribution. Professional advancement was not encouraged. Boy have we come a long way. My fear is that a union will be a HUGE step backward where reward will be based on seniority not on what the nurse contributions to the organization.

  46. Reading RN September 14, 2013 at 04:21 #

    Thank you for starting to expose PASNAP! I want them to go away so we can all resume focus on OUR patients and OUR hospital. PASNAP is looking for money – not better patient care or better employee benefits.

    • Penny September 14, 2013 at 07:58 #

      Exactly ! AND none of the dues money goes to us! Why would we want another boss? We already have managers and a chain of command to report to. Hospital policies will not go away ans neither will management but with a union we will also have the union as a boss ! Who would want to report to 2 bosses plus all the regulations we must follow from Joint Commission etc !

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