The AHA and most HCO's are extremely concerned about the free choice act for good reason. Healthcare has been targeted by unions as it is the last bastion of employees whose jobs are not likely to be eliminated an moved to another country as they experienced with their manufacturing base. The act itself is problematic due to the card check provisions but also the requirement that an agreement be reached in 120 days or be subject to binding arbitration. We are showing our employees examples of how elusive and deceitful these tactics can be. One actually asked an employee to sign up for a free dinner and chance to win a Cadillac. They teeny print on the very bottom stated that your signature on this card binds you to represenation. Pretty scary.

Marie,

I haven't heard of this, but it makes sense given your statement regarding the last industry that is likely to globalize.

It's good to educate on the deceit tactics the organizers are using. We, as an organization, have a good handle on when the unions are becoming more active, but haven't heard of such tactics as you describe.

Question for you: is there any education on what the union "won't do for you as a member" (i.e. the down-side of organizing)?

Interesting comments I work and live in Washington State where unions in HCO are not confrontational at all. But i did pick up from Senator Specktor? Today on CNN the comment from Marie.

I live in Chicago, and this is a hotly contested issue. My organization has done a lot of work educating staff about the employee free choice act. My main issue with this Act, is that it is unbalanced, and does not allow HCOs to adequately contest for employee's abilities to organize.

We are concerned about the prospects of increased union activity in the Kansas City market, but we have had some recently success. We had 3 hospitals that were unionized(RNs only). Last week one of those hospital's had an election where the nurses overwelmingly voted to de-certify the union. This was a significant victory for hospitals in the community. Unions have just not delivered on promises to thier members in our market.