RN Alerts Index Page

Print Text Only

Tell-a-Friend

UNION RN ALERT: Get Informed and Engaged

NLRB Issues Anti-RN Union-Busting Decision

BACKGROUND: What RNs can do to protect their rights (PDF Flyer)

Nurses Denounce Bush Labor Board Ruling on Union Rights As Fundamental Assault on Democracy, Patient Safety - RNs Prepared to Strike to Defend Their Rights
Press Release 10/03/06

Nurses Across Nation Take to Streets to Demand Protection of Right to Organize, Advocate for Patients

The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a major ruling that jeopardizes the ability of RNs to receive union representation. The crux of the issue in each is whether certain employees are "supervisors" and thus ineligible to join a union or advocate for patients.

Sign a solidarity pledge online here
View NLRB Protest Photos from Nationwide Actions
Watch a Labor Beat Video of the Chicago Protest
Call our Hotline: 877-678-3357 for more information

Background Information

Dowload articles from the CNA/NNOC magazine, Registered Nurse:

How will the labor board decision on RNs as supervisors affect you?

Clear and Present Danger: A labor board decision on whether RNs are supervisors threatens the union rights of all nurses

RNs Confront Hospital Industry on Supervisor Issue in Chicago

RNS GET STREETWISE TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS (Cover Photo of Civil Disobedience)

Stephen Colbert Satirizes Anti-Union Assault

Click the play buttons above to watch this hilarious video.

On July 18, Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report"—a show satirizing Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor"—host Stephen Colbert took on the National Labor Relations Board and the potentially disastrous impact its rulings could have on nurses and other workers.

What's At Stake for Union RNs?

Literally thousands of RNs could be stripped of their right to CNA/NNOC representation. Without CNA/NNOC representation:

RNs would be employees "at will" and subject to termination or other unfair discipline without contract protections.
All pay, health coverage, retirement, and other standards now negotiated by CNA/NNOC would be subject to the whim of your employer.
Management could ignore RN-to-patient ratios and other patient protections with no voice for RNs to challenge unsafe conditions.
The collective power of RNs through CNA/NNOC could be dramatically undermined, and the rights of RNs to organize into CNA/NNOC drastically curtailed.

What's At Stake for Non-Union RNs?

Nurses not represented by unions will face huge hurdles in any effort to work collectively to increase their pay, maintain their benefits, win pensions, be protected against unfair discipline, reduce unsafe conditions at the bed side, and speak out on behalf of patients. Additionally if you are designated a salaried management employee your overtime pay will be at risk.

What's At Stake for Patients?

Nurses would face intimidation for advocating for their patients — a clear threat to patient safety.
RNs must be able to intervene on behalf of patients when a hospital, nursing home, or HMO tries to cut costs by limiting care, and be able to act collectively to challenge unsafe staffing or other unsafe practices.

Why Is This Occurring Now?

Challenges to RN union rights have been pushed for years. Now, however, the Bush administration has finally succeeded in filling the NLRB with anti-union management attorneys who have already rolled back employee rights in a number of other cases. A decision is expected before the end of August.