Answers to Your Questions

While your manager is your best resource for questions, you can use this form to submit a question.  Please include your contact information if you would like a direct response.

Read answers to commonly-asked questions.

A: NNU organizers and other non-employee representatives of any outside organization are prohibited from soliciting or distributing literature on SHH property.  Therefore, union representatives are not allowed to hand out flyers to patients, visitors or employees in the parking lot. Union representatives are permitted in any area on our campus that is otherwise open to the public. However, NNU representatives are not permitted in patient care areas  or other work areas where access is restricted to SHH staff.

Nurses should be aware that NNU frequently seeks publicity or support for its campaigns, and may reach out to patients and visitors, politicians, and members of the community. If a patient or visitor asks about the union campaign and you are uncomfortable having that conversation, you can refer them to a nurse leader.

A:  There is no evidence that a nursing union brings any measurable positive impact on patient care. There is some debate over the impact of union contracts that limit individual nurse autonomy, undermine initiative, and favor rigid scheduling and staffing over flexible, responsive patient care models. Nurses may want to consider the potential negative impact of joining a union with a long history of holding strikes and waging public protests and negative campaigns against hospitals, and how that could undermine clinical collaboration and our reputation in the community.

A:  If you are represented by a union, you’d be expected to comply with two sets of rules:

  1. The contract, which could determine new rules regarding scheduling, seniority, vacation time, and other things that affect your day-to-day work, and
  2. NNU/CNA rules as outlined in the union’s Constitution and Bylaws.

The NNU Constitution provides that “All members of National Nurses United obligate themselves, by virtue of such membership, to comply with the Constitution and published National Nurses United policies.” NNU Constitution Article 2 Section A.5.

The CNA Constitution, meanwhile, says the union will have the authority to “take appropriate corrective action to remedy misconduct” if a member “engages in conduct which undermines the economic and professional security of her/his colleagues.” CNA Constitution Article 3, Section 3.