A nurse is preparing a presentation. How can the nurse explain one of the primary concerns of the proponents for a nontraditional collective bargaining unit versus the traditional, union-based nursing model?

Question

a. "The traditional-based union model fre-quently puts nurses and employers in ad-versarial positions.".
b. "The union dictates to members what they can and cannot do within the health care institution.".
c. "The union-based model can initiate strikes that can be detrimental to the pro-vision of health care in an institution.".
d. "The union-based model is too expensive and nurses are not fairly compensated by the organization.".

Answer 1

A
The traditional-based union model is adversarial and frequently puts nursing and administration in antagonistic positions. Strikes are most often the last resort and are planned well in advance so that the institution can be prepared. Nontraditional process is referred to as interest-based bar-gaining (IBB) or shared governance. This is a nontraditional style of bargaining that attempts to problem solve differences between labor and management. Although this style of bargaining and mediation will not always eliminate the need for the more traditional and adversarial collective bargaining, many believe this nonadversarial approach of negotiation may be closer to the basic fabric of the discipline of nursing and its ethical code. In both models, nurses pay dues.