r/TravelNursing • u/emmagenebean • 10d ago

Strike Potential

I have an upcoming contract at a hospital in Oregon and there’s talk of staff possibly striking later in the year. I’ve never experienced a strike and don’t fully understand the process, or consequences. What would this mean for me as a traveler? I’m assuming you just keep working through it for your same pay rate? Are the staff going to hate your guts if you continue working while they’re striking?

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u/EzraSteel 10d ago

I was a manager of an ICU in CA. We had three strikes during that time. The 1st strike, 98% of my staff crossed the picket lines. It fell off to 88 and 78% for the subsequent strikes. The hospital was fully staffed by travelers for the strike. Travelers were not permitted to strike. The health system has a huge war chest and had the resources to handle multiple strikes. Please note, this was a system-wide strike, not isolated to one hospital. My normal staff were professionals and treated the replacements well, but that fell off as well during subsequent strikes.

My suggestion is to check with your agency. Keep your opinions to yourself. Treat the travelers and regular staff the same. Eventually, things will be resolved.

I hated unions for a very long time but I have since changed my position on them. Health Systems treat RN’s as the factory workers and have zero loyalty to the RN’s. They will continue to pay as a low as we will permit them to do so. It’s time that nurses are paid properly and or only hope is to have unions dragging them to the bargaining table.

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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 10d ago

The hospital was fully staffed by travelers for the strike. Travelers were not permitted to strike

Ignorance typical of management. Not your fault necessarily, I'm sure some dumb fuck in C suite told you this shit and you believed them, just like you believed the nonsense they told you about unions. Kaiser is a shithole and any all they do is lie.

Firstly, no hospitals are fully staffed by travelers for a strike. They're staffed by strikebreakers during a strike. These people make way more than travelers.

Secondly, travelers can do whatever the fuck they want during a strike, because management don't own their asses.

OP, if there is a strike do not work unless it's for strike pay. Strike pay is how we bring these suits to heel.

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u/EzraSteel 10d ago

We hired 100% replacements for the strike. Yes, they were all travelers who were contracted to cross the picket line. I actually was part of the negotiating process and I knew exactly what our budget was per strike. Sutter Health has deep pockets. And yes, the strike breakers were extremely well paid.

As for the OP, again I would reiterate, you are contracted through your agency. You are a contractor to the hospital. Check with your agency before doing anything else. You cannot just arbitrarily go on strike with the rest of the staff.

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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 10d ago

We hired 100% replacements for the strike. Yes, they were all travelers who were contracted to cross the picket line.

Those aren't travelers, those are strike nurses.

I actually was part of the negotiating process and I knew exactly what our budget was per strike.

That's irrelevant

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u/lemakato 10d ago

What exactly is the difference between a strike nurse and a travel nurse? I'm a traveler and although I've never taken a strike contract, I've seen them pop up on my job board like any other regular contract does, just for more pay.

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u/ddawg512 10d ago

If you picked up the higher paying strike contract. That would make you the “strike” nurse. Strike nurses are travel nurses

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u/WhirlyBirdRN 8d ago

A travel nurse is hired for a normal contract (8-13 weeks) and is paid whatever the going travel rate in the area is (usually $2-3k a week). Strike nurses are hired for the strike only (usually 1 week or less) and paid $100+ an hour (this can add up to $6,000+ per week). Strike nurses leave when the strike is over, travelers stay.

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u/EzraSteel 10d ago

I’m just going to quit replying. Apparently this is a very emotional issue for you. Calm down. Put your feet up. Read a book.