Give nurses respect, not roses, during Nurses Week

by Ann Twomey
Vice Chair, AFT Healthcare
Program and Policy Council

One thing nurses don't need or want during this year's Nurses Week is more empty praise for our hard work. What we deserve is the right to speak up for our patients and our profession without fear of reprisal-a right that our union protections have always afforded us.

Because of recent profound changes in the interpretation of U.S. labor law, nurses throughout the country are now fighting to hold on to their right to join a union. It is a battle we must win if we are to continue to be effective patient advocates. Luckily, we have been joined in our fight by mem-bers of Congress, led by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.), the sponsors of legislation to protect the union rights of nurses and other professionals, rights that are under attack due to recent rulings of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

The NLRB, the federal agency that administers our nation's labor laws, last year gave hospitals the option of denying union protections to "charge nurses," those experienced nurses who, at the request of their employer, take on additional patient care responsibilities during their shift. In a highly controversial decision, the NLRB expanded the definition of a supervisor under the law, and included in that definition many thousands of nurses who use their experience and skills on behalf of the patients in their care. By declaring charge nurses-and professionals in many other jobs-to be supervisors, the NLRB is allowing employers to deny union rights to millions of workers.

Under this new and flawed interpretation of the law by the NLRB, many hospitals and employers are attempting to take from patients their best advocate—their bedside nurse.

Denying these protections might make life easier for hospital CEOs and other employers, but it threatens the safety of our patients and the ability of all healthcare workers to fulfill their responsibility to speak out on behalf of their patients. Our ability to act together to improve patient care and working conditions is what makes us vital patient advocates in a healthcare system too often dictated to by insurance companies, and driven by cost-cutting and bottom-line concerns.

It is our union that provides health professionals the voice and protection to speak up and fight for our patients-not only at the bedside, but in our communities and to elected officials.

Only when nurses are protected by our unions are we able to tell our employer about unsafe conditions such as too few nurses taking care of too many patients, inadequate supplies or dangerous conditions. Only because we are in a union do we have the right to negotiate with hospital man-agement for a safe environment for our patients and for our colleagues. AFT Healthcare members use their voice to establish safe staffing levels in our unionized hospitals, negotiate safer conditions for both patients and caregivers, and set standards for both patient care and professional ad-vancement.

Congress is considering legislation restoring the right to chose a union, not just for nurses but for all professional and skilled workers. The Re-empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act will reverse the NLRB decision, and protect staff nurses and other professionals from being called "supervisors" merely to cut them off from their union rights.

As nurses, we have fought long and hard to build respect and recognition for our profession. When we fight to keep our union protections, we are speaking up for our patients as well as our profession. Now we need our patients to speak up for us-join with us in supporting the RESPECT Act and let your congressional representatives know you support the rights of all nurses to speak up for you.