Unions go too far when they force per-diem workers to pay dues
I recently received a letter, literally threatening my ability to serve my community.
A semi-retired volunteer, I have been blessed to be able to retire with my husband to this heavenly part of the country. Upon moving to Libby over eight years ago, circumstances encouraged me to give back to my newly-adopted community.
As I surveyed the opportunities where I might be most helpful, there was an obvious need in the volunteer ambulance service. The availability of advanced services that I might help provide was also spread thin.
I have been a critical care and emergency nurse for over 30 years, and wished to somehow draw upon my field of expertise to benefit my community.
When I approached the local ambulance service, it was apparent that without the support of our local hospital, I would not be able to provide any advance life support services.
The administration of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital was acutely aware of our community’s need, and was willing to provide me with the tactical support needed to help me help others. In turn, I was grateful to provide the hospital with my availability, on a somewhat voluntary 24/7 on-call.
I have assisted with the transportation of critically ill patients to other hospitals, particularly in foul weather, which occasionally prohibits air ambulance traffic. This service I was not able to provide as a volunteer for liability reasons. I became an employee of St. John’s as a per-diem nurse.
This carries with it the responsibilities of continued licensure, certifications and continuous specialty training that I maintain at my own expense. I receive no sick time, no education benefits, no retirement, etc. This I do in addition to hundreds of hours of volunteer service.
To my surprise in mid April, I was informed that I was on a “delinquent” list. This “list” was a union member list at the hospital. Unbeknownst to me, I was apparently required to be a union member. For some seven years now, no one has ever mentioned such condition for my continued employment at St. John’s, until now.
Upon this discovery, I called the union, The Montana Nurses Association, and imparted upon them my thoughts on union membership; I declined, I explained in painful detail the sources of my opinions, about union membership, union leadership and organized crime.
I declined any services from them and said “no thanks.”
They insisted that even though I’m not provided any benefits from St. John’s (or the union) that I don’t even get a resemblance of a regular paycheck, they (the union) would still be “forced” to represent me in case I should ever have a need for legal representation against the hospital. In other words, pay for their lawyers, and of course their political lobbying.
I expressed that in 30-some years, I had never had a reason to do so, and am quite unlikely, at this stage in my career to do so.
The conversation over, I was quite content in thinking I had a “right to work” or volunteer.
Apparently not.
In July, I received a very disturbing and threatening letter from the union. In short, they threatened to “have me fired” if I didn’t fork over almost $40 a month to them, in “union fees - not dues,” for the privilege to serve our community.
I find this a perfect example of what’s wrong in America. Unions today are void of common sense. They are obviously not out for the best interests of this community.
Detroit has competition right here in Libby.
— Kit Branch
Libby