Nursing union - what have they done for you?

[aliceband1]

Is anyone here a nurse and not a member of a union? I have always thought it quite a high cost for something I probably won’t ever use (although I suppose you never know when you’ll need it). £16 for the RCN is a quite a fair amount of money to me - some people wouldn’t notice that but I would.

I was with Unison and then changed my job and for the first few years of new job I didn't bother rejoining a union - but in my mind I felt a bit vulnerable. Pandemic arrived and I joined RCN, not that I've needed it, but I definitely felt a bit better that I had possible support if needed. (I had to leave my specialist role and return to front line).

How lovely you won’t be accepting the pay rise they are currently negotiating for you,
or taking any paid sick leave or carers leave or compassionate leave again negotiated by them over the years
or use the NHS pension and the early retirement age for nurses,
or taking advantage of a Union Rep if you make a mistake and give the wrong medication and cause harm to a patient and the family try to sue you
or reading the research in the monthly periodical they commission to further extend the evidence base,
or the millions of other things that Unions have fought so hard for on your behalf

Fine.

I was always in unison when I was a nurse ,you never know when you might need union support

I've been an RCN member for 35 years this year and frequently disagree with their campaigns and despair at their yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir to governments of both colours.

A lot of what they do is not in my name, particularly when their definition of women includes males.

Their legal advice had been mixed and their pensions advice, wrong.

However, they do have some good educational resources and a great library/cafe if you are near enough to use it.

Remember you can also get tax relief on your subscription and you never know when you might want their advice.

I don't know much about the nurses' union. I work for another trade union. If I had a pound for every non-member who has phoned us, in a difficult situation, wanting advice and representation, I would be a rich woman. And we can't help them. You can't buy insurance after you have crashed the car.

Besides this, I would expect they have been and are negotiating on your pay and terms and conditions.

Me. I am now not in a union, and never needed them when I was.

Pay rise? I’ve been qualified 5 years and I’m worse off than I’ve ever been, despite a few “pay rises” (on paper, give it with one hand and take it from another). Early retirement won’t be a thing by the time I reach retirement age, and they take almost 10% from my salary into my pension pot as it is. I’m worked into the ground. I stay late every shift, I often work through my breaks. I’ve been off sick for 2 shifts in 5 years and made to feel like I was commuting a crime. It has always been the same, despite voicing this to management. Why are you making unions out to be gods gift? Do you work for them? Did I hit a nerve? Please!!

Being part of a Union is like having insurance. You’re really glad to have them if needed.

I have been a Union Rep and over my career I have lost count of the number of people who approached me for help, and I was unable to offer anything as they were not paid up members. It also gave me great insight into what our Unions have done for us over the last century, and what they continue to do.
you can’t buy insurance after the event, and to face a bully, or the result of an accident or incident at work without the support of a Union rep is so much harder than it needs to be.

I can’t answer the poster who has had payrises and takes home less money, but without the pay rise it would be even less, and our Unions do negotiate hard for them.

I have car insurance, house contents and buildings insurance, life insurance and my Union membership gives me professional insurance. I have used all of them, except the life insurance and was glad to have them

RCN offers indemnity for agency nurses etc however primary care GP work is now covered under crown indemnity. I’m not really a nurse anymore I came back to help with the pandemic but it’s not changed too much stress and no time to do the job properly. I’ll be letting my registration lapse next year cause that’s the only way I can break from it mentally.