Collective Bargaining in Nursing

Questions????

Extras

Which of the following is likely to facilitate union activity?

A. Belief that supervisors are not understanding of unionizing

B. Managers communicating effectively with employees

C. Managers listening to concerns of employees

D. Belief that low wages cause job dissatisfaction

Class Activity

The main concern with collective bargaining is that it will:

A. Unite the nurses.

B. Reform health care.

C. tension among nurses.

D. Secure economic security.

Impacts of Collective Bargaining

challenges

Advantages

• Political interference
• Union dues
• Disputes are not private
• Employer may be reluctant to negotiate
• Regular meetings and communication is necessary
• Majority rules

• Contract to guide practice
• Participation of employees in decision making process
• Protect interests of nurses
• Provide nurses with a voice on the job
• Resolve differences between nurses and management through negotiation
• Solidarity

Nursing Unions Across the Globe

Locally

RNUNL

• Represents 5,700 RNs across NL
• "Led by Registered Nurses and inspired by Registered Nurses"
• Composed of 12 executive members
• Develop and manage RNUNL policies, set strategies, and govern RNUNL between biennial conventions.
• Campaign for fair working conditions so that RNs can provide safe and high quality health care.

(RNUNL, 2015)

Nationally

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

• Represents 200,000 nurses and nursing students
• National voice for nurses
• Represents nurses to Parliament and in the media
• National voice within the Canadian Labour Congress
• Composed of a national executive, held by the presidents of each provincial union.
• Duty is to protect the health of patients and the public health system at the national level!

(CFUN, n.d)

Internationally

International Council of Nurses

• Founded in 1989
• Consists of 16 executive members
• Works with over 130 national nurses associations and represents over 16 million nurses worldwide
• "works to ensure quality nursing care for all, sound health policies globally, the advancement of nursing knowledge, and the presence worldwide of a respected nursing profession and a competent and satisfied nursing force"
• Works closely with: United Nations, WHO, International Labour Organization, and World Bank

(ICN, 2015)

Implementation in Nursing Practice

Includes but is NOT limited to:

Nurse's Role

Work Hours

• Understand your collective agreement!
• Know your responsibilities in your contract.
• Know the employer’s responsibilities.

• 150 hours in 4 weeks/ 75 hours bi-weekly.
• Three 12-hour shifts in a row - two days off
• or seven 8-hour shifts in a row - two days off
• 7.5 hour shifts or 11.25 hour shifts

What is a Collective Agreement?

Workplace Implementation

Employment Standards

• Parking permits
• Dressing rooms, washrooms, break rooms
• Reserved RN uniform colours
• Disciplinary policies
• Workplace violence policies
• Access to a safe workplace

• Salaries
• Overtime
• Vacation time/annual leave
• Maternity leave
• Stat holidays

History of Collective Bargaining

• A written contract between the employer and a union.
• Outlines terms and conditions of employment.
• Reached through the process of collective bargaining.
• Includes wages & benefits, obligations and responsibilities, and dispute resolution processes.

*Collective Bargaining in NURSING!!*

History - Late 1800s

History - 1700s

1872

• 1741: Canada's first recorded strike takes place at the royal shipyards in Quebec City.
• Workers protested their working conditions.
• This strike did not go over well - leaders of the protest were sent to prison.

• March 25th: Toronto printer's strike ensued for a shorter work week - some union leaders were arrested on criminal conspiracy charges.
• April 18th: PM John A. Macdonald introduced the Trade Union Act, making it legal for workers to organize into unions.

• 1971: Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland (ARNN) signed their first collective agreement.
• 1973: Public Service Collective Bargaining Act was introduced.
• 1974: Newfoundland Nurses Union was formed.
• 1981*: National Federation of Nurses Unions was created.

(OPSEU, n.d.)

2014

1907

1825

1870

1971

1740

History - Today

History - Early 1900s

History - Early 1800s

• 1907: Canada's first labor law is passed - The Industrial Disputes Investigation Act.
• 1914: Ontario passes the Workmen's Compensation Act.
• 1944*: Privy Council Order 1003

• 1820-1830: Workers associations, societies and unions begin to form.
• Many of these are forebearers of unions of today.

• Today, all RNUNL members are represented by 1 of 6 collective agreements.
• Nurses are speaking with a unified voice and are recognized as equal partners in health care.
• Unions are present throughout the country supporting nurses and a wide variety of professionals.

(OPSEU, n.d.)

What is Collective Bargaining?

"Collective bargaining is a method of jointly determining working conditions between one or more employers on one side and organized employees on the other. The normal outcome is a collective agreement outlining terms and conditions of employment as well as issues such as union recognition, grievance procedure and special committees."

(Boivin, 2013)

(University of Guelf, 2011)

Methods of Collective Bargaining

Traditional & Non-Traditional

Non-Traditional Collective Bargaining

Traditional Collective Bargaining

• Shared governance or interest-based bargaining (IBB)
• A "collaborative based", problem-solving approach to assist nurses to have a voice in the workplace and control over issues that affect practice.

"A legally regulated collective bargaining unit or union assists members to gain control over practice, economics in the health care industry, and other health care issues that threaten the quality of patient care"

(Zerwekh & Zerwekh Garneau, 2015)

(Zerwekh & Zerwekh Garneau, 2015)

Objectives

• Understand the definition of collective bargaining.
• Understand the definition of a collective agreement.
• Recognize the difference between both forms of collective bargaining.
• Understand the 10 steps of the collective bargaining process.
• Recognize the development of collective bargaining in nursing throughout history.
• Understand various aspects of the RNUNL's collective agreement.
• Recognize the advantages and challenges of collective bargaining in nursing practice.
• Understand the impact that collective bargaining has on nursing at a a local, national, and international level.

Collective Bargaining in Nursing

Natalie Furey, Tasha Ryland and Jessica Veysey