Op-Ed: Support nurses, not the CNA

Darren Cardoza, a registered nurse at the intensive care unit at Fremont Medical Center, purports to represent the good intentions of the benevolent special interest group, the California Nurses Association, in a column published in the Appeal-Democrat on May 18, 2008. The CNA, one of the most powerful special-interest groups in California, was instrumental, along with the California Teachers Association, in politically castrating the once motivated conservative activist, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A little recent history: At the time that former Gov. Gray Davis was being ousted from office, Schwarzenegger was elected by a majority in California to replace Davis on a platform to gain control of our state legislature's propensity for undisciplined spending and to reel in the untethered power of special interest groups. The new governor was no match for the CTA, CNA, and other unions. In a special election, propositions on the ballot designed to contain elements contributing to budget increases and controls on deficits were defeated, primarily due to advertised opposition financed by union organizations.

With a huge cache from dues paid by nurses, teachers, and other union members, the wealthy unions were successful in thwarting the efforts of the new governor in a very impressive, expensive campaign to prevent any loss of power to the so-called representatives of workers. Many workers are unwillingly forced to be members and pay dues that subsidize political causes and candidates that they may not support. Now the governor works hand-in-hand with those who are most responsible for our budget crises. Watch the budget grow undeterred at an unprecedented rate!

Darren Cardoza and his colleagues have enlisted the "help" of the CNA under the auspices of improving patient care at Fremont-Rideout Health Group. His associates' efforts have proven to be little more than an encumbrance for FRHG with numerous allegations of deficiencies to the National Labor Relations Board but producing little to justify those allegations. Most were cleared with little notice. If a single significant aberration of health care was observed through the several comprehensive inspections, the CNA and company would certainly have it broadcasted and exaggerated in order to harm the integrity of FRHG. That didn't happen.

The intention of the union is to disrupt the services provided by our health facilities, intimidate the administration, and embarrass the employees of FRHG to attain their goal: "closed shop". They claim that their purpose is to improve patient care and protect the rights of nurses. With a "closed shop", requiring all nurses employed by the FRHG to join and pay dues to the CNA, the union would wield more power in all concerns of services provided by the FRHG.

Many union causes will not pertain to our community but would suit the statewide agenda of the union and may lead to strikes that obstruct health services in our community and others. In addition, this means that all facilities of this nonprofit community organization, FRHG, and its non-nursing employees, would be under the thumb of the CNA by having policies in their workplace heavily influenced by the union.

The nurses' strikes have further impacted the non-nursing personnel and patients by bringing on unwarranted scrutiny with baseless claims of unfair practices and by creating inconvenience due to the increased security necessary to prevent interruption in health services by the strikers. All FRHG facilities have frequent inspections by all levels of government at regular frequency and have routinely met or surpassed the standards required by law. Suffice to say, the activities of the union are not popular among many of non-nursing and nursing personnel.

If Cardoza and his colleagues are unhappy with policies and provisions of the previous negotiations, which meet or exceed contracts of other facilities that the CNA has settled, not including "closed shop", perhaps they should find happiness paying dues at any of those approximately 150 (according to Cardoza) locations with existing contracts with the CNA.

Admit it, "closed shop" is the issue and power is the objective. Do not force nurses to pay dues to support agendas and candidates that are backed by the CNA. Thank FRHG for holding out to preserve nurses' rights to choose and for negotiating in good faith so that nurses are treated fairly.

Dale H. Henderson of Yuba City is a clinical technologist in the labs of Fremont and Rideout hospitals.