Connecticut Health Care Associates - Organizing Yuor Family

Why should we form a union?
Being a Health Care Professional is a difficult and demanding job. Many of us work long hours, we work short staffed, we rarely get recognized or compensated appropriately and the likelihood of career advancements are far and few. We continue to do the work we do because we care for our patients and we strive to provide good quality care to all those who need it. When no one else speaks for patients we must! In the new health care environment there are many obstacles and the only way to overcome them is by joining together in our individual facilities, in the state we live in and at the national level.

Health Care Professionals are forming unions because we recognize that we have the right to make decisions on all matters affecting our jobs and the care we deliver to our patients. We know we have the responsibility to define, establish and enforce standards of care, service and quality. We also have the right to participate in deciding how resources are best used in each and every one of our facilities.

Without a Union Contract we are employees at-will. Under this principle, administration can change every aspect of our hours, working conditions, policies and wages without any input from the staff. As employees at-will we have no job security since our employment can be terminated at any time for most any reason. Without the union, management has absolute power over every decision made.

Before deciding if you need to form a Union at your facility ask yourself the following questions:

Am I able to practice safely within my professional scope of practice?
Is staffing set to provide good quality care to my patients?
Am I mandated to work overtime, at a detriment to my patients and my own safety?
Am I fairly compensated for the work I do?
If I have professional disagreements with management’s policies, is there a way for me to have a neutral hearing?
When addressing patient and professional concerns with my management am I treated with professionalism and are my suggestions are taken seriously?
Do I have real input in all the decisions that affect the kind of care I give my patients?

These are some of the issues that health care professionals have successfully addressed through collective bargaining. Legally, when Health Care Professionals form a union, we have the right to negotiate a legally binding contract with management.

How do I build a union at my facility?
If you want to have real power, a strong voice and professional respect, the first step is to contact us at:

chcaunion@aol.com or contact us by phone at (800) 434-3435