Between CNA and SEIU

A serious conflict has developed between SEIU (Service Employees International Union) and the CNA (California Nurses Association / NNOC (National Organizing Committee of Nurses, the national subsidiary of ANC) over who should organize the nation’s nurses.

One of the most important battles in this conflict occurred in Ohio, where 8300 SEIU attempted to organize registered nurses at nine hospitals in the Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP). The election was the performance to be held in mid-March 2008, and CHP and SEIU had agreed to refrain from campaigning for or against, before the election (source: The Nation www.thenation.com).

After the election was planned, CNA intervened and began distributing leaflets criticizing SEIU various hospitals in Ohio, denouncing the elections as a business “back room” with the hospital nurses in the love of a force ” ‘Union (source: The Nation www.thenation.com). After the campaign of the ANC pamphlets, voting was suspended and suspended indefinitely.

Following the campaign, CNA, SEIU sent a letter to the nurses and CNA CNA complaint accusing him of “injury to nurses and spend the money.” Furthermore, says the director of the CNA SEIU, Roseann demora, being a union ” ; Executive busting “(source: The Nation www.thenation.com).

In light of bitter conflict that has taken place, we should examine the reasons for adopting the measure, the ANC has done, which led to the cancellation of elections.

A number of factors to consider before rushing to court and condemned the ANC. The first and most important factor to consider is that there is no membership cards were submitted by one of the nurses affected Ohio was scheduled before the election. In fact, the CHP has asked the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for elections, not the nursing staff (source: http://socialistworker.org SocialistWorker)! In summary, the CNA believes that nurses have the right to be informed about what was happening behind the scenes is that the election was planned that the SEIU to represent them without their consent or input, as a result of management / SEIU collusion.

The second factor to consider is the reputation of the SEIU as a union that is “in bed” with management. SEIU has been criticized by other unions, and even at home, as too close to management. What to say about that cogeneration SEIU is willing to allow the election to go forward without a word of opposition to SEIU? What does this mean? It simply means that the CHP had nothing to fear from the SEIU. Is that the kind of union that zealously represent the interests of nurses? Also, what kind of union fails to promote the benefits of joining the union to potential members before the election to represent? SEIU did not have to promote itself, because I was sure to win the election because he had reached an agreement with the direction in which the management has not agreed to campaign against them. Can anyone honestly think management remain passive at the prospect of having to deal with a truly militant union?

While it is tragic that so much time, effort and money spent by the two largest unions to attack and denounce each other in a time when union membership at the national level is so low, it is also true that nurses should have a say chapter in determining their destiny and to be aware of their options. Free choice can not occur if imposed by the government with the support of a union without scruples.