Op-Ed: It's still about union dues

For almost two years, registered nurses at Fremont-Rideout Health Group (FRHG) have been fighting for the basic right to determine for themselves whether they want continued representation by the California Nurses Association (CNA).

First, nurses filed for a decertification election so they could vote on the issue. When the union filed charges to block the nurses' right to vote, the nurses gathered signatures from a majority of their colleagues on a petition seeking removal of CNA. Now, the union has once again blocked the will of the nurses through legal maneuvering that has overturned their petition, and CNA has been re-imposed on the nurses. FRHG will be returning to the bargaining table with CNA shortly, where the union will undoubtedly return to its favorite subject, "union security," which simply means forcing all nurses to pay union dues in order to keep their jobs — whether they want to join the union or not.

Throughout this process, FRHG has stood in support of our nurses' rights to freely decide whether they want union representation, and to freely decide whether to pay union dues. Would it have been easier and less costly in the short run to simply give the union the only thing it truly wants, mandatory dues? Perhaps, but we made a commitment to stand with our nurses who don't want to be forced into a union they don't support, and we will not betray their trust.

Why has CNA continually refused to agree to a contract with an "open shop," allowing nurses to decide whether or not to pay dues? And why has CNA gone to extraordinary lengths to re-impose the union on nurses who don't want to join? The answer is that CNA could take approximately $600,000 a year in dues from the paychecks of nurses at Fremont-Rideout hospitals. Over the course of a three-year contract, that represents nearly $2 million in income for the union.

For our nurses, CNA dues would be an added burden during these difficult times when every dollar counts. Most nurses would pay between $800 to $1,200 a year. It simply is not right to force this burden on nurses when the majority clearly expressed their desire to be free of CNA.

Our nurses are truly exceptional professional caregivers. Along with the rest of our staff, they dedicate themselves to providing the best care for our patients. Each has my respect and support. As we return to negotiations, I hope that the union will finally respect the rights and wishes of our nurses as well.

Terri Hamilton is chief executive officer of the Fremont-Rideout Health Group.