We're overwhelmed': Nurses strike to protest COVID working conditions

"We're overwhelmed at work!"

So we're going to take a day off, walk outside, and hold signs to convince you that paying a union more money will solve this crisis.

Huh r1? They want better working conditions and higher pay.

Why is that a bad thing? Answer for yourself. Why would you muck up the discussion with a cheap shot?

These people are brave and have more integrity that you could ever dream of having. You have become something awful. Or maybe you always were.

Holding a sign isn't brave.

Doing the job is brave (to a point - they're still being paid, and can quit anytime). Millions of nurses are working hard every day, and they're not sucking up media attention with strikes and stunts.

R4 then those people will never get a raise. You have to fight for it, sadly. These companies will happily make you a slave if you let them.

“Holding a sign isn't brave.”

Another disingenuous cheap shot.

Fight for it by leaving people to suffer from even WORSE medical care while you're outside drinking union coffee and calling in to podcasts?

This is the problem with unions. They make it all about themselves and their wants. Not about the job, or the value of work, or the dignity of work. It's all about "me-me-me!" Meanwhile, productivity grinds to a halt, sick people suffer, and robots or immigrants step in to do a reasonably good job replacing all of them.

I hope R6 is a covid nurse so she has some basis for dictating her belief system. I wonder if she’s considered that substandard working conditions in healthcare means substandard care for the patients that she’s expressing “concern” for. But keep working in substandard conditions so there is someone to sue or prosecute when the substandard conditions lead to adverse outcomes.

I feel like these is some anti-union troll who just has to crap on every thread.

Why would that hospital be running dangerously under staff r6? Can’t they get someone else to cover the missing shifts?

If they can’t, they’re not paying enough. Hospitals should be non profit and not out to squeeze their employees for every dime. As much as they charge for procedures, they shouldn’t be pinning any staffing shortages on the union members.

If it was a better place to work with adequate pay, replacing the strikers would be easy. The hospitals is putting those poor patients in danger by not raising wages and improving egregious working conditions.

My former healthcare company cut MD pay by 20% and cancelled productivity bonuses at the start of Covid. We lost a few MD's after this (quit) then lost a few more (Covid). Raises, we will wait and see due to the financial risk of an epidemic. Eventually: 2% for cost of living (2021). All the admin/non-clinical staff were sent to work from home however their managers seemed to exist in an 'out of sight, out of mind' mindset so tracking them down to get actual work done in a timely manner - nope.

Personal protective equipment: supply your own as we've run out. Arrive at work 30-60 minutes early so you can queue in all weather to get you temp taken because for some reason we want just ONE entry with two people to manage the thousands of employees who all show up at the same time. Oh, by the way- if you are late because the queue was too long- pay docked and a tick on your evaluation. And socially distance at work---which it great if the physical environment allows -- it didn't. Wear your mask- which half my colleagues didn't - Then watch as one after another get the disease. All the while put a big smile on your masked face. Twist yourself into knots actually providing care as you notice more and more big and small things fall through the cracks. And don't complain. Don't question Covid guidelines and the political mess it brings. Be the ultimate gumby and cheerfully float to specialty units you are unskilled for because SOMEONE has to.

(cont) All the while realizing that my job could kill me. This fact: you spend your days around illness and death caring for your fellow humans is built in to the job. What's not any more is the lack of safety/flying by the seat of your pants/ oh well, just do your best, as the tools to do 'your best' just aren't there anymore. Nurses as a group can be a mean and vicious bunch especially if you don't measure up in terms of skill. We will chew on each other but our ultimate contempt if for administration- especially at times like this one.

I’m sorry that you have to go through all that because some accountant told you to. It’s messed up.

And then to have people like r1 with their nasty, hateful comments just puts salt on the wound.

R12 As an accountant, FUCK YOU!

R13 accountants are good with numbers but horrible with humans. I bet you drive your spouse nuts. I’m sure the bills are paid in time but that type of skill set is anti-human and im sure you know that. I’d love for you to do my taxes but not to be in charge of my healthcare thank you very much.

R14 Did a CPA molest you as a child? Are you the crank who's been posting all over DL this morning about how awful accountants are?

This thread is so ugly my Gods😶