Why can't we all get along? (Divided We Fail)

[david]

In this months New York Nurse I'm told that the BOD of NYSNA has started the process for the Association to join a new national union - the NFN. This union is composed of those states that left UAN and will potentially total 75,000 members. Meanwhile, CNA, UAN and Massachusetts have joined to form UAN-NNOC which will have 150,000 members = twice the size of NFN. UAN-NNOC is an AFL-CIO affiliate, while NFN right now stands alone, unprotected.

As I read the extracts from the Incorporation papers of the Association, as quoted in the Bylaws, "The purposes...for which...the corporation shall now exist: ... to promote cordial relations and cooperation among New York state nurses and between such nurses and nurses (individually or in association with one another) throughout the world; ... and to do all things necessary, proper, incidental, suitable, useful and conducive to the complete accomplishment of the foregoing purposes in their broadest sense." I read this to mean every effort should be made to work cooperatively with every nurse whenever possible both within and outside the State of New York. I do not see that happening.

Further, the Bylaws charge the Voting Body to "establish association policies and directions" (Article XIV, Section 3). I attended the Business Meeting last Fall and because there was no quorum (less than 200 members) no business was done - that means there was no vote to enter into a new multi-state union.

In summary, what I'm saying is the Association is not following its stated mission or its bylaws. In fact, the direction being taken is divisive to the profession and dangerous for its members - I'm a member and I'm concerned.

NYSNA needs to work cooperatively with ALL nurses but first, with NY nurses before reaching out nationally. NYSNA represents only 35,000 of the almost 200,000 NY nurses - where are the rest? Some are in PEF; some in NYSUT; but many stand alone. Coalitions need to be built within NY with other unions to further the goals of the Association, and yes, this includes SEIU ('if you can't beat 'em....') - to use the AARP slogan, Divided We Fail. (Am I preaching to the choir here?)

[daisy]

Great rundown and great questions. Fear of reprisal may keep members quiet, but they know that they did not agree to this or have a chance to even question the self declared leadership of this group.

Maybe the larger National Union will give a voice to RNs( 150,000 and counting). Any RN can join either UAN or NOCC. I don't know the rules of the new entity. I think they are going to have their members decide how and who can join.

What a great idea ask your membership for direction!

[Lavinia]

Welcome David.

I agree that the association has veered off of its mission and that the actions taken have served to divide us further.

Leaving the UAN forced us out of the AFL at the national and state levels, reducing the opportunities to strengthen relationships and unite organized nurses to work toward common goals. Many members are unaware of this.

At last year's nurses' rally at the capitol, even our tee shirts demonstrated our separatism. Instead of our union being listed with all the others on the same shirt, as was done in the past, we had our own shirts- same color and design but with only our union listed. It seems like a small thing, but one of the senators that spoke did not mention us because she did not see our name with all the others. She is now appointed to the civil service and pension committees.

Not to mention how awkward it felt standing side by side union nurse brothers and sisters. I felt like we were seen as thinking we were somehow better than them.

When I asked how the shirts came to be done in this way, I could not get a straight answer. I do know this was not a decision that the members had made. I heard rumblings that someone wanted to send a message to another union but the message really ended up hurting our members.

Again, this is a small thing- nothing compared to the decision about the national union- but it is a symptom of those bigger problems. And one that was very visible to anyone attending that event.

We only have members attending that rally for the last three years because the membership advocated for this. We used to send some staff, but we had to push to facilitate member involvement. The first year we were there the head of the state AFL nurse task force said it was the quickest turn-around he had seen in a union's involvement in a long time. The buses provided were filled with nurses. Last year they had to cancel buses due to low turn out.

I think the bottom line is that without meaningful member involvement in setting the goals and strategies of the organization and in running the union, it will not be able to grow or be effective. Indeed, it will not survive.

IMO- We need a rapid response of transparency, democracy and member-driven culture stat.

[Tania]

I used to think that what binds us all is our desire to take care of people and to help people to take care of themselves. I think this is what advocacy and activism is all about.

How to do that best? No person or group has a monopoly on good ideas, nor is anyone always right.

Thus, the need for transparency, dialogue, and a truly democratic structure with built in inclusion and information-sharing.

True, part of the reason for the lack of interest and involvement of our members is due to their comfort, complacency and the "me-first" mantra that our society has promoted over the past 30 years. However, an informed population tends to be more active, especially when people know that what they think matters and that they can have an impact.

[nursesince69]

I'm having problems with my NYSNA . Supposedly , it is my union, my voice, yet the people in power pulled us out of the biggest union group in the nation , AFL-CIO . This was done over a year ago. Our road in to the national voice was UAN . NYSNA pulled us out. Now the 'power people' claim openness & created a new club & elected themselves to 'presinency ',without openness in either the NYNURSE or in congress or DA . Reson was not clear.
nonetheless the 'Board' gave monies toward this.
Iguess ,my question is who gets to say where ,how,when & how much of my 'dues' get spent on things in which I the member have no say?
My dues have gone up not down since the disaffilation from UAN . Why ?Also, what is my gain? I believe we are blocked from AFL-CIO, which means in union terms blocking of the 'union arm' of support when it comes to job actions !

[Lavinia]

Welcome to the board, nursesince69!

Many members are having the same reaction to the news about the NFN and I agree with your observations about the AFL.

The AFL seems pretty clear that it is unlikely to welcome this new national (NFN) into the AFL. A letter from John Sweeney was sent to the state nurse's association leaders which was not shared with our members. A copy can be seen at www.nynursesunited.org/Sweeny_Letter_December_2008.pdf

I don't think it benefits the members to start another separate structure especially at a time when the labor movement seems to be trying to come together.

Recent news about talks between the AFL and Change to Win (the unions that left the AFL a couple of years ago) and the developments within nurse's unions (UAN, CNA and MNA, CNA and SEIU), all see to be heading in the direction of unity toward common objectives.

The big reason they gave for pulling us out of the UAN was the fear of being swallowed up by SEIU as a result of a supposed deal the UAN was making. When that fear proved baseless, they said they had issues with how decisions were made and complained that the state did not have enough of a say. Then the same people form this new national, execute the constitution, and vote themselves into office (even before our BOD discusses it) without a word to their own members!

What else do these leaders have the power to do?? Remember, this wasn't even the entire Board of Directors, Delegate Assembly or Congress executive committees (which would be bad enough) but just two elected leaders and two top staff!

As for our dues- you did not see any decrease when they pulled us out of the UAN as that money automatically went to ANA because of the way their dues policy is written. And a nice increase in revenue it was for them. Isn't there an ANA board member that sits on our board as well??

The Board of Directors has the final approval of the budget for our union. Several directors tried to block the authorization of member's dues going to the new national without asking the members first. They were voted down in what has clearly become a tyranny of the majority.

[rnforever]

I am outraged! Who are these people who have dreamed up this nightmare!?? Did I ever think I'd live to see the day when the leader of a union would call him/herself a "CEO"? These people are destroying the NYSNA!! This is a story of greed and corruption. Very ugly business. "Several directors tried to block the authorization of memeber's dues goint to the new neational without asking the members first. They were voted down in what has clearly become a tyranny of the majority." It's a "tyranny of the majority" by a minority. How can I complain about this???