Hospital Strikes Not Good For Your Health

Is this what you want while you are laying in the hospital

 Health Care Unions Not So Good For Patients


While sitting in a local pizzeria one day I came across a couple who came in for a bite to eat. I continued to eat what ever it was I was having. The owner started up a conversation with the gentleman and his wife.  before you know it it got to the point that the owner asked what the man did for a living. The man answered that he was no from the local area and indeed he was from out of state. I can't recall what state he was from but was definitely from the north east.  He explained that he was on an assignment and semi vacation.  He was a union organizer sent to organize health workers. I could not hold off a remark which was stuck between my bite of pizza and my trachea. I didn't want to aspirate so I exclaimed, " oh that's not good ".  His wife ready for a confrontation replied. "Why not "?  "I belong to the union and it has been very good for me".

Her answer showed why organizing health workers would not be good. The operative word here is, me.  I listened  as she continued to list and enumerate the benefits afforded to her by belonging to a union. She was an RN.  She was a good talker and adamant as to the good things the union has provided for her and the membership.  The gentleman whom I presumed earlier to be her husband was kind of reserved and did not say much.  It was then I realized that they in fact were a team.  She continued and I wanted to hear what she had to say.  I heard words like I, we, our, us.  Finally the conversation which was one sided at best came to a conclusion. It was then that I asked,  " tell me how does union membership help the profession and most of all the patient." At that point there was silence. The question was never answered.