HCA has engaged in extraordinarily hard bargaining and “Union-busting”—and it started even before our official contract bargaining began, when they walked away from the successful safe staffing agreement with Union members at Riverside Community Hospital. HCA is trying to silence us—even during a pandemic, when everyone else calls us heroes. Make no mistake—this is HCA's way of attempting to take away our voice and our power. But we’re ready to stop all attempts to weaken us. We’ve developed an alternative means of collecting dues, via direct payment to the Union through the StayUnionStrong.org portal.
We have compiled some questions we’ve heard around the hospitals and provided answers.
Do I still have a union even though our contract expired?
Yes. Our Union continues to bargain our contract with management and still represents us as it did before. As a union member, you are still able to participate in SEIU 121RN activities.
Our contract expired; do I still have a contract or a collective bargaining agreement?
Yes. Our contract remains in effect with the exception of dues being deducted from our paychecks, the right to binding arbitration and our right to strike (or the hospital's right to lock out employees). If the hospital violates the contract, grievances can be addressed through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
If the hospital violates our contract, what should I do?
Call your steward, bargaining team member or Union Rep/Organizers, just as you did before, and they will help you resolve your concern.
Why is the hospital suddenly so interested in our Union? Why are talking to us about the union and trying to get us to stop supporting our Union?
HCA is engaging in intense Union-busting tactics at all its Union hospitals around the U.S. They're going above and beyond typical campaign tactics. Our Bargaining Team will continue to pursue a fair contract and members should continue to support our team.
Why would HCA try to break our Union?
HCA is very proud of its financial health and profitability. Even during the pandemic, when other hospitals are suffering, they have reported higher profits than even last year's very profitable fiscal year. HCA would make even more profit if they cut even more corners, continued to cut staffing and ration PPE, and cut our pay and benefits.
Can the hospital kick our union out?
Absolutely not. Only Union members have a say over our Union.
Since HCA is stopping dues deductions, do I still have to pay?
Our Bargaining Team asks RNs and Licensed Medical Professionals to continue paying our dues directly to the Union through the StayUnionStrong.org portal. Our Union continues to represent us in all issues and will actually have to incur increased expenses to take grievances to arbitration, if necessary. We also have a law firm currently assisting us at the bargaining table and serving as Chief Negotiator. During difficult times such as this, it's more important than ever to continue to support our Union. During this pandemic, we are literally fighting for our lives in several of our important contract proposals.
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about direct dues deduction.
Other than pay and benefits, what are some of the reasons we are in a Union?
Our Union protects our ability to speak up at the hospital. It enables us to protect our nursing license without fear of retaliation, and gives us a voice on patient care issues. Our Union contract also spells out an equitable process for call-off and distribution of extra shifts. Our Union guarantees that no changes to our working conditions occur without first discussing the changes with our Union to try to come to an agreement.
When do you think we will have a new contract?
Our goal remains to gain a fair contract that puts patient care and RNs' and Licensed Professions' safety at the forefront. We are not asking for anything that won’t benefit our patients, our hospital and our community through improved language and a strong ability to recruit and retain the best RNs and Licensed Professionals.
Are we going on strike?
We are bargaining for a fair contract. At some point, the Bargaining Team could call a strike. Strikes are approved by Union members in a secret-ballot strike authorization vote.
What is it like to not have a union?
- No say over patient and staff safety or patient care issues
- Routinely missed rest breaks, often for entire 12-hour shifts
- No protection against forced Title 22 violations, thus putting your RN license at risk
- Mandatory overtime
- Working every weekend
- Vacations cancelled at management’s convenience
- No differentials for night shift or on-call
- No progressive discipline—you could be fired immediately for any reason
- No right to respect on the job
- No rules on shifts—you could be switched from days to nights to eight hours, then 12 hours