Public Sector RNs remain Union Strong

Submitted by smaple on



RNs in a strong union like CNA/NNOC/NNU know we will not be singled out and left unprotected when we challenge our employers for unsafe staffing, cuts to patient services, and putting profits above RNs and patients. Our big, unified voice is the source of our power. The Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, designed by billionaires and corporate executives, attempts to undermine this power and weaken public sector unions.
 
Learn more about Janus on this page—and know that even when corporations feel emboldened to undermine working people, the power to stick together belongs to us. Corporate forces may be hoping for a divide and conquer strategy, but when we stand together, they have already lost. When we stand together, we win.

 

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Now, more than ever, we must strengthen our RN union, CNA/NNU, in every unit and facility. We must talk to all of our fellow nurses about joining and maintaining their union membership in order to build our power to fight for our patients and our profession, especially in the current political environment.

 

 

Active CNA/NNU members will remain members and our dues will continue to be deducted — there will be no change. As a result of the decision, non-members, those who have been paying a “fair-share” fee, will no longer be legally required to contribute to CNA/NNU for the benefits we all receive because of our union contract and CNA/NNU representation.

 

 

The great majority of dues monies are spent on representational, advocacy, and direct-support functions. A small portion of union funds are spent on administrative and logistical support. Decisions about dues allocation are made by our union’s elected board of directors, comprised solely of direct-care RNs, following the general priorities set by the delegates to the triennial CNA/NNOC conventions.

 

 

CNA/NNU is required by law to represent and negotiate on the behalf of all nurses in the bargaining unit, regardless of whether the nurse is a dues-paying member or not. That means CNA/NNU members and non-members get the same wages, bene ts, and working conditions established by the contract. However, non-members do not get voting rights within CNA/NNU — they cannot vote on union elections, strike authorization, contract ratifications, or serve as a union representative, PPC member, delegate, or bargaining team member.

 

 

No. CNA/NNU has a strong history of organizing, negotiating, and winning in so called “right to work” states such as Nevada, Texas, and Florida. The recent U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision in Janus vs. AFSCME is just the latest corporate attack on nurses, attempting to weaken our voice at work and diminish our ability to advocate for our patients. Our collective power in our facilities and on our units comes from our unity and we will demonstrate this through building our membership and increasing our nurse and patient advocacy though our union, CNA/NNU.