In 2010, the union was voted into RMC. There is an article written by the NNU stating the union was voted into RMC with a 64% margin. HERE IS THE TRUTH: In 2010 the hospital had 600 nurses that were eligible to vote. Only 406 nurses voted (67%). 258 nurses voted in favor of the union. 148 voted to keep the union out of RMC. Let’s get the numbers straight, this is not a 64% margin. This is only a 43% margin. Was this YOUR CHOICE? Let’s get a vote so you have a CHOICE!
Here are a couple of related articles:
Nurse Files Federal Charges after Union Officials Harass Employees at Petition Table
Nurse says she faced intimidation for trying to dissolve union at Research Medical
PRESS RELEASE
June 22, 2018
Growing Number of Research Nurses Support Decertifying Union
Nurses at Research Medical Center continue to mount an effort to decertify the National Nurses Organizing Committee of Missouri and their efforts are gaining strength. “We have a growing number of nurses who are signing our Petition to decertify the Union; we anticipate we will be filing a Petition with the NLRB to Decertify the Union soon” said Kacy Warner, one of the leaders of the decertification movement, Our Choice Our Voice (www.ourchoiceourvoice.net).
Research Medical Center employs over 600 nurses in the bargaining units. The union slipped into RMC in 2010 by only a 43% vote in favor of the union.
The Union has collected millions of dollars in dues from hard-working Research Nurses. “Our Nurses are required to pay between $606 and $1134 per year or lose their job; those dues support six figure salaries for Union officials and expensive travel” said Sara Oberlander, another supporter of Our Choice Our Voice. “The Union claims it is all about patients and nurses – but really, it’s all about money for the Union,” Oberlander said.
Union rally tonight designed to intimidate nurses into continuing to pay dues.
To justify their dues, the Union has created a culture of fear, distrust and a nurse vs. nurse culture.” said Oberlander.
“Now those dues are being used to finance bringing in outsiders to Kansas City to further disrupt our hospital and intimidate nurses from the decertification movement” said Warner. The Union’s rally on Friday night, June 22.
The Union is already defending NLRB charges of intimidation against organizers of the decertification movement. “They are bringing in Union officials from around the country for this protest. “They will claim they are rallying for our patients and nurses but they are really trying to intimidate the nurses in the “Our Choice Our Voice” movement” said Amy Mahurin with Our Choice Our Voice.
The latest insult is that “nurses at other HCA hospitals are getting raises – and we’re not” said Davina Hatton, another supporter of Our Choice Our Voice. Fortunately, when the labor agreement expired on May 31, nurses no longer have to pay dues. “We fear that during the union bargaining sessions, an agreement will be met, and require hard working RN’s to pay expensive dues yet again” said Hatton.
Press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the Hospital
A group of leaders from the Our Choice Our Voice movement will have a Press Conference at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 22 on the sidewalk at the front entrance to the Hospital.
Related articles:
- Nurse says she faced intimidation for trying to dissolve union at Research Medical
http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article212106919.html
- Nurse Files Federal Charges after Union Officials Harass Employees at Petition Table
http://www.nrtw.org/news/nurse-charges-05252018/
PHOTOS FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON June 22, 2018
A growing number of nurses at Research Medical Center are calling for the hospital’s nursing union to disband. They cite no need for union representation in a high-demand profession, as well as multiple negative impacts collective bargaining has caused to wages, benefits and morale at the hospital.
A petition to disband the union is nearing the minimum number of signatures needed to force a vote to disband, and is on pace to gather enough signatures to dissolve the union outright.
All nurses at Research Medical Center are required to pay union dues, whether they want to be part of a union or not. Every nurse pays between $606 and $1,134 per year to the union – money most nurses would rather see in their paychecks.
Labor unions play an active role in protecting American manufacturing jobs from being shipped overseas, and protecting the rights and wages of workers in declining industries through collective bargaining.
However, the nursing profession needs no such protection. Nursing jobs are at no risk of being shipped overseas. In fact, because of the aging population and increased availability of healthcare, nursing is one of the fastest growing and highest demand fields in the United States.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, within four years there will be 100,000 nursing position vacancies each year—more than any other profession or industry. With more than 500,000 seasoned RNs anticipated to retire by 2022, the Bureau projects a need for 1.1 million new RNs for expansion and replacement of retirees, and to avoid a nursing shortage.
This has created market conditions that require hospitals and other healthcare organizations to compete with one another for the ability to hire nurses. Most hospital systems in the Kansas City area currently offer signing bonuses, regular wage increases, differential for advanced certifications, and other fringe benefits as a way to stay competitive in the open employment market.
Research Medical Center offers none of these benefits to its current employees because it is hamstrung by the nursing union and limitations of collective bargaining.
Nurses at most Kansas City hospitals, including all non-union HCA-affiliated hospitals, have already received significant wage increases this year. Research Medical Center nurses have not received raises, and are stagnated at a non-competitive, below market wages.
Meanwhile, the president of the nursing union draws a salary of more than $100,000, and the union’s financial reports show numerous extravagant expenditures on travel and entertainment that provide no benefit to Research Medical Center nurses.
As the call to disband has gathered momentum, union leaders and representatives have launched numerous misinformation campaigns, social media attacks, and has been formally charged with bullying via the National Labor Relations Board.
Related Articles:
•Nurse says she faced intimidation for trying to dissolve union at Research Medical <http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article212106919.html>
•Nurse Files Federal Charges after Union Officials Harass Employees at Petition Table <http://www.nrtw.org/news/nurse-charges-05252018/>
Many of the union representatives’ claims can be dismissed with simple fact-checking and by using common logic.
CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE VIDEO FROM PRESS CONFERENCE ON JUNE 22
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h4a7pCyA0Dm06DQ8zQh_t0KNHdmUm1kj/view?usp=sharing