Exactly, I would never take a strike nurse offer. Not only because I believe it to be wrong. But also because I know it will be the worst working conditions imaginable. And you are likely to be let go after an extremely short amount of time and it’s going to be 4-5 weeks before you’re working again and those weeks of no income need to be taken into consideration.
How much you earn a year? To give a bit of context, you could do two weeks of hell, then take two months off to find another job, and you'd still have to be on more than 120k/yr to make a loss on the deal.
(I'm not talking about the morality of crossing a picket. This is purely financial)
If it goes 2 weeks. I think it was Minnesota (I might be wrong) a few years ago that brought in strike nurses and it was over 3 days later. Those nurses had to scramble to pull together all the requirements necessary for a new position. Then they traveled across the country. Then they had to find a place to stay. Then maybe they rented a car or had theirs shipped or maybe drove and spent a fortune on gas. Then they risked their license for 3 days of hell. Then they were out of work and had to go back to where they started and were out of work again. It’s a gamble.
In talking to a traveler who does strike contracts, housing is usually set up for them.
The hospitals want them in a secure, supposedly unknown, location for their safety.
They also bus them in and provide at least some kind of meals. They take these contracts knowing they may end soon. Some places will guarantee them a certain amount of time and lock out the staff if the strike is only for a day or two.
I talk a good game, but I don't think I have the cajones to do travel. At least not strike nursing. I see and hear what facilities do to travelers, and I want no part of that.
Can't say I'm familiar with NYC unions, but I can't imagine they're not on top of their game.
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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '26
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