Author Question: Some of the nurses in the organization are preparing to unionize due to longstanding issues related ... (Read 56 times)

futuristic · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

Some of the nurses in the organization are preparing to unionize due to longstanding issues related to mandatory overtime policies enforced by the health care organization.

Which of the following statements by a nurse supervisor is an example of an unfair labor practice?

1. It's up to you as nurses to decide for yourselves whether you want to join a union.
2. The rights of those who refrain from joining the union are as important as the rights of those of you who do join.
3. It doesn't matter to me how you decide to organize yourselves.
4. I'm sorry that the time I've chosen for your mandatory staff meeting is at the same time as your union meeting.

Question 2

Some of the nurses at the health care facility have organized a strike due to perceived unfair labor practices. Which of the following statements reflect typical feelings about strikes by the nurses who have chosen not to participate in the strike?

Select all that apply.

1. I bet our client fall rates will go up again.
2. They're going to enforce mandatory overtime.
3. At least we have guidelines for nurse-to-client ratios. They won't give us more clients than we can handle.
4. It won't take long to hire and train the new crop of nurses.
5. I don't know how we're going to get all of the required client care completed during the strike.

Harbringer · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 2

Rationale: The employer's role when nurses organize is to promote the employees' rights to organize. The rights of the workers who decide to join the union and the rights of those who decide not to join must be protected. The nurse supervisor cannot interfere with the right to organize, support one collective bargaining agent over another, encourage or discourage union membership, or terminate any employee who testifies on behalf of the collective bargaining agent. Setting a mandatory staff meeting for the same time as a scheduled union meeting is illegal.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 1; 2; 5

Rationale:
I bet our client fall rates will go up again. When nurses use a strike as an agent to change labor practices, the nurses who choose not to join the strike are often fearful. They know that staffing is often inadequate and clients are less safe.
They're going to enforce mandatory overtime. When nurses use a strike as an agent to change labor practices, the nurses who choose not to join the strike are often fearful. They know that staffing is often inadequate and mandatory overtime can be enforced.
At least we have guidelines for nurse-to-client ratios. They won't give us more clients than we can handle. When nurses use a strike as an agent to change labor practices, the nurses who choose not to join the strike are often fearful. They know that staffing is often inadequate. Nurse-to-client ratios are only guidelines, and typically will not be enforced during a strike.
It won't take long to hire and train the new crop of nurses. It is very difficult to hire and train new staff members. It takes time and money for the staff members to be trained adequately.
I don't know how we're going to get all of the required client care completed during the strike. When nurses use a strike as an agent to change labor practices, the nurses who choose not to join the strike are often fearful. They know that staffing is often inadequate, unlicensed personnel are often utilized in different ways, and clients are less safe. It is difficult to complete required client-care activities with fewer nurses.