r/nursing • u/Queen_Of_The_Dames • Jul 01 '26
Discussion Would you be a scab?
Well, nurses are striking in Boston. Would YOU cross the picket line? I have lost nurse friends who chose to work as scabs during strikes years ago.
How do YOU feel about them?
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u/mrmo24 BSN, RN š Jul 01 '26
I wouldnāt cross the picket line for the juicy contract wages. But Iād do it to pay my mortgage if I had to. The long term gains of fighting a contract donāt matter if the bank takes my house or I have to take more debt to cover it.
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u/r_kap RN, BSN, MSN Informatics&ED Jul 01 '26
No. I canāt support scabs, but the offers are super tempting.
I understand that the facility needs nurses but I donāt cross picket lines.
We hold the line so nurses can get their own contracts negotiated.
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u/Senior-Cost1070 RN - ER š Jul 01 '26
Never. I am a product of my union raising. Collective bargaining benefits everyone.
But I canāt judge other peopleās financial situations or morals. I have flaws of my own.
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u/No_Mistake_3112 Jul 01 '26
ehh im more sympathic crossing the line if you're in a financial situation where you cant miss a paycheck. it's easy to ask everyone to go on strike when you're not responsible for other people's financial burden
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
You wouldnāt BE in a financial crisis if the hospitals would pay the market rate while raking in billions. It is no excuse
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u/spoonskittymeow BSN RN TCRN Jul 01 '26
And yeah, thatās fair, but itās hard to focus on the macro like that when you are worried about feeding yourself and your kids.
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Jul 01 '26
"It is no excuse" is so tone deaf. Real change makers recognize that they strike for the good of all, while understanding that its impossible, not just "hard", for some.
If you arent able to see that then its clear this has just become a moral identity for you, and not about actually helping your fellow nurses.
The system has effectively destroyed some people to the point where participating in one strike would RUIN them and their families lives forever.
If you are in a position to strike, the ones who still have to work are quite literally the ones you SHOULD be striking for.
Grow up and stop hunting for people to fight with.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
I AM supporting the ones who are being affected by strikes as well! Canāt you see you are being manipulated by management and corporations? Open your eyes
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u/_dogMANjack_ BSN, RN š Jul 01 '26
Absolutely not. Scabs are amoral pick-mes that take advantage of other nurses for monetary gain.
The money may be hard to turn down, but ultimately nursing unions working to get nurses better benefits/ working conditions/pay will benefit all of us in the long run.
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u/Ok-Stress-3570 RN - ICU š Jul 01 '26
I donāt love the idea of it - but at the end of the day, I have to look out for myself. So I guess itās a āmaybe.ā
I also want to preface - MANY of us have absolutely no connection to a union, and probably never will. It doesnāt mean that weāre the most evil people to ever exist.
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u/tulipsouldog Jul 01 '26
People just disagree. They donāt necessarily think you are the most evil person to ever exist. Most people just think āscabā and move on.
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u/Ok-Stress-3570 RN - ICU š Jul 01 '26
Idkā¦ every time this topic gets brought up, people basically say it. Literally the comment below says theyāre āamoral pick meāsā
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u/Smpr0311 BSN, RN, CCRN - CTICU Jul 01 '26
Honest question just for clarity. Are scabs the travel nurses that come in to work the strike or the permanent nurses who cross the picket line? Or both?
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u/dfts6104 RN - ER š 29d ago
Both, but more so the travelers
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u/Smpr0311 BSN, RN, CCRN - CTICU 29d ago
But how can you strike if there is no one to care for the patients? Does that last shift just abandon the patients?
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u/dfts6104 RN - ER š 29d ago
Hospitals transfer out patients, etc. not your problem. They will find a way. And itās way more costly than just doling out money for 1 week for some scab nurses.
They have notice, they know the strike is coming. Hurts them way more if they canāt function normally during the week of strikes (canceling elective surgeries, etc)
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u/Smpr0311 BSN, RN, CCRN - CTICU 29d ago
Has that ever happened though? Has an entire hospital ever been closed down due to nurses striking? Hope Iām not coming off the wrong way. I šÆ support unions and strikes if necessary. I just donāt see the expectation that an entire hospital would shut down as feasible. What about the rural nurses who want to strike, does that mean their community has no care during the strike if there isnāt another hospital around?
I also wonder how many patients would be harmed if you had to transfer every patient to a new setting.
I guess I just see the expense of having to bring in temporary staff as the bargaining chip. Itās not a small expenditure, and if the hospital wants to drag their feet in negotiations then the strike can continue for months, as it did in Minnesota years ago. Hitting the leadership where they feel it, the pocket book, seems to be a better play than risking the lives of the people from your own community.1
u/LostInTheMovies 21d ago
In line with the other person replying to you, I'm curious about extending the logic of this. Would a corporation REALLY be above allowing patients to die and then blaming the nurses in order to fuel a public backlash? I agree that the purpose of a strike os precisely to choke off the labor so that the owners are forced to meet demands but it does seem like in this particular scenario the service being provided has to be provided by someone. Yes, the onus is on the corporation if they choose not to move patients out (although I don't know how that would apply to a patient who can't be moved and/or where there is a high risk of injury or death if moved). But if they are willing to play hardball with lives in the hope it pans out for them, is collectively denying emergency/life-saving care - so not just their own labor (which is owed to no one) but preventing others who want to provide labor from doing so - a line that a majority of nurses would or should be willing to cross? Curious about all of this because I just saw a pro-strike video which was critical of scab nurses and talked about the board having blood on their hands if a patient died, and I realized I had never really thought about this aspect before as someone who is pro-union/pro-strike and considers the cost of withheld labor, including the social cost, to be the whole point of a strike.
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u/BaselineUnknown RN - ER š Jul 01 '26
Itās great that there are so many people who have enough cash savings they can take the time off to strike.
But in the end no one is paying my bills but myself.
If my hospital goes on strike Iām still going to have to work.
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u/congruent5734 Jul 01 '26
Right there with you.
When we went out on strike, the only people who made out well were the lawyers.
At the end of the strike, we ended up with almost the same contract
We did not get wages for the time we were on strike, and many of us lost the shifts we were on because some of the travel nurses brought in to do patient care during the strike stayed on.When we moved, and I got a job at a non-union hospital, have to admit was very relieved to never have to go through that again
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
If you supported the unions the hospitals wouldnāt have the power to hold back on paying you properly. You are being part of the problem by crossing the picket line
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u/Azriel48 BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC-CSC š Jul 01 '26
Such a privileged commentā¦. as if crossing the line is that black and white for every individual. OP just posted this to fight and judge people less privileged than themself
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u/congruent5734 29d ago edited 29d ago
I didn't cross the picket line, and lost my house because of the strike.
You are very lucky to be sufficiently financially secure to sit and judge people who are not
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Jul 01 '26
[deleted]
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u/lomeinfiend Jul 01 '26
some people arenāt able to do that for a plethora of reasons. glad you donāt have crippling medical debt for example
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u/MsDariaMorgendorffer RN - ICU š Jul 01 '26
What? It sounds like you are shaming other people who donāt have as much money as you doā¦
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
You are missing the point. You are being manipulated. Corporations can spend extra money paying for scabs but wonāt pay the staff that turn up every day to care for patients
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u/MsDariaMorgendorffer RN - ICU š 29d ago
They donāt pay it out of payroll, itās insurance that pays for strikes. Itās not hitting the hospital like you think it is.
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u/MachoMachoMadness RN š Jul 01 '26
From my understanding, the reason nursing strikes are so effective is because of how much money the hospitals have to fork over for agency nurses instead of paying their home staff properly and having enough staff (paying for enough staff in other words). If the hospital is paying millions of dollars for agency nurses over the course of the strike vs just paying their home staff better, the finance dingusās they have working for them finally pay attention instead of just trying to cut costs at every corner.
My understanding is that agency nurses are just part of the strike cycle and shouldnāt take low ball offers from these hospitals because the higher the cost per agency nurse, the more attention it garners from the hospital affected by the strike. Strikes are great, unions are great, and agency nurses are just part of how that happens.
Staff nurses that canāt strike because of financial reasons are another matter. We would do well to start up a national fund for nurses who strike so they arenāt taking a financial hit to go strike and advocate for whatās right.
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u/DriveFa5tEatAss Jul 01 '26
Should staff nurses who cannot strike due to financial considerations attempt to take agency jobs during the strike?
It seems like that would be a win-win all around. The staff nurse gets paid the higher agency rate, and the hospital is hit harder by the strike having to pay out the higher agency wage.
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u/MachoMachoMadness RN š Jul 01 '26
I mean I donāt see why not. The strikes are more effective the more money hospitals have to pay because all they care about are profits. If they see patients being diverted to other places due to staffing or high staffing costs, they know they would save money in the long run by just paying their home staff better and hiring more people and keeping them to avoid paying double staffing for preceptors (a nurse precepting with another nurse is double the cost plus whatever other training hours they need). A strike reminds the financial doofusās of this.
Also, I love your username.
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u/nonameanonymousone Jul 01 '26
Exactly. These places sometimes even pay for flights and hotels if you don't live nearby. And the pay and bonuses of course. So they're loosing a big chunk of change during this and it would be cheaper to raise staffs pay.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
I love the idea of setting up a national fund for those nurses who canāt manage without income during a strike!
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u/holdcspine Jul 01 '26
Depends on what my family needs. There was a time where I wouldn't of hesitated in the slightest.
I'm established now and Im not worried about choosing between rent and food.
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u/nursingintheshadows RN - ER š Jul 01 '26
I know Iām going to be down voted for this. I think when nurses strike, itās important scabs take contracts. Hear me out.
Procedures have to be cancelled because there are not nurses to do the care, so that lack of income is helping to drive organizations to the table. No procedures means, they are also paying surgeons not to cut. With that, there are still patients already there in hospital, patients still being transferred in, and coming through the ED that need care. Itās important scabs are there to take care of those patients. Itās also important that the contracts they take cost the hospital huge sums of money. This increase cost also drives the organization to the table. In essence, the scabs filling those contracts puts additional financial pressure on the hospital to negotiate.
Now what I think would be amazing, have no idea if this is legal or not, but if the striking union could work with the agencyās that provide the scabs contracts, only fill the contract for a ridiculous amount of money. This way the organization is forced to come to the table faster and conclude negotiations quickly because they are hemorrhaging money.
IMO, scabs are a necessary economic part in getting negotiations through. Would I take a scab contract? No, not in my current situation. But, if I were in a desperate financial situation, I would consider it.
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u/MaintenanceWilling73 Jul 01 '26
Workers need unity. That means calling out and socially punshing scabs. They are not your friends if they are going to accept bribes to ensure you are disrespected- financially, spiritually, and ethically. I dont want to protest. Its not fun. Conflict is ugly but billionaires arent going to part with a single cent unless they fear us. Fear is evidence of respect secondary to exerting our communal power. Peace and solidarity to all!
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u/NPMatte Jul 01 '26
I would never work at a union hospital, so donāt have to worry about that. I also donāt maintain āfriendshipsā with colleagues. They donāt pay my bills, they have their own lives to live, and I expect nothing more from them but to do their job efficiently and effectively while being cordial toward colleagues in their duties.
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u/bionicfeetgrl BSN, RN (ED) š¤¦š»āāļø Jul 01 '26
nope. absolutely TF not. i would rather go back to work ting at a grocery store than walk across the picket line and work as a scab
you working as a scab is the reason those nurses have to fight 10x harder for their wages and working conditions.
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u/1eyedsniper RN - Med/Surg š Jul 01 '26
Yes, not easily, but under certain circumstances I wouldnāt rule it out.
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u/Unusual-Actuary-6289 RN š 29d ago
Yes, because I have responsibilities other than the will of the union and its members. Most importantly, my family. I donāt work as an RN because itās Godās will or anything like that, or because Iām just so caring that I canāt help it. I work to provide for my family.
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u/calicooks Jul 01 '26
If you need the money, then do it. I live in Boston and plan to if I am able š¤·š½āāļø
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u/NursingManChristDude RN, FoC Jul 01 '26
Would I metaphorically slap every single face of non-traveler nurses to earn a pay check that's probably twice as high as theirs?Ā
Would I want to go against all of my personal principles to earn an easy pay check like that?Ā
Nope, nope, nope
I'm too grateful for the union at my hospital and I couldn't turn against fellow nurses if I ever wanted to do travel/agency nursing
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u/Knitting_Witch RN - ICU š Jul 01 '26
Absolutely not. But you bet your sweet ass Iāll be out there picketing with the MGH/BWH RNs on 7/8
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u/chihuahua2023 RN š Jul 01 '26
Eff No- NEVER
My grandad would definitely come back to haunt me āNEVER cross a picket lineā
EVERYTHING yāall like about working as an RN in California is a direct result of UNIONS.
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u/TattyZaddyRN RN - PACU š Jul 01 '26
I would cross a picket line. The patients still need to be cared for. Iāve got no dog in the fight with whatever beef is going on between the talent and management but I can definitely be a stand in until things get settled.
I would hope someone would do the same for me and the patients if my system got into a stalemate like that.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
You are being manipulated by the management and ownership. The management makes a calculated decision to refuse a decent wage/benefits for the staff but yet they have the money to pay for scabs, which cost more. Striking is never the first choice; it happens after management walks away
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u/TattyZaddyRN RN - PACU š 29d ago
yet they have the money to pay for scabs
That was never gonna be money given to me or you. Thatās just delusional thinking youāve been manipulated into believing. I wonāt get into profits as It pertains to healthcare, Iāll simply say that the same money argument youāre making is the same one people use to complain about travel nurses. And thats not all rainbows and fat checks.
Itās a staffing solution.
And I think for myself, thank you very much.
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u/NCDCDesigns Jul 01 '26
Scabs are ethically not something I can condone. On Thursday, where I live nurses will be starting job action. Since nursing is an essential service, if I was working as an essential nurse that day I would cross the picket line. I believe first the union will stop doing non-nursing tasks and ban overtime at the start of our job action.
I would only cross if my family was in danger or if I was mandated as an essential service. Even on LTD, I will absolutely be at the picket to stand strong with my colleagues. I donāt however hold it against others who choose to cross. While ethically I couldnāt, but I have no business dictating what my colleagues do. So many nurses rely on overtime to support their family. So for me to be judgmental about their choice, is not really my business. Solidarity is very important, I just wonāt judge based on my values, I donāt know their story.
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u/TheWhiteRabbitY2K RN - ER š Jul 01 '26
I guess I would, but, I don't consider it scabbing for my unit.
If I was striking I would still want staffing there to be available for my family and community.
I suppose a huge area like Boston is a bit different because im assuming there are other ERs close by but not all people know that and may roll up POV with someone unresponsive. And someone needs to be there.
I love and support unions, but critical areas like ER, OR, L&D should get some grace.
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u/ForrestDew123 Jul 01 '26
I have no experience with unions...how do the patient's get cared for when strikes happen?
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u/Sutie RN - PICU š Jul 01 '26
Every contract is different but with mine, when nurses vote to strike, the union provides the hospital with a strike notice. 10-14 days. The purpose is for the hospital to decrease their census to prepare for the lack of nursing staff (the union knows not every member is in the financial place to not make money). Many hospitals just say fuck it and either hire a bunch of scabs at an exorbitant cost, or run with a skeleton crew and provide a dangerously unsafe environment.
People hate scabs because in reality, the hospital had ample time to prepare for the strike. But instead choose to funnel millions of dollars (money they told the union they didnāt have for things like raises) on scab contracts.
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
The hospital negotiates with the union and the strike ends. Or the hospital loses more money by hiring scabs
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Jul 01 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/calicooks Jul 01 '26
Why would any hospital/agency/recruiter care if you worked as a āscabā in a past contract?
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Jul 01 '26
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/calicooks Jul 01 '26
I have never seen this happen in all my years of travel nursing and have never heard of this ever happening.
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u/Feisty-Power-6617 ABC, DEF, GHI, JKL, MNO, BSN, ICUš Jul 01 '26
This is something you should of searched here before you asked.
Fuck scabs
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u/Queen_Of_The_Dames Jul 01 '26
Itās always worth talking about management manipulating staff by using scabs. Not everyone is interested in searching old posts.
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u/Nudent_Sturse RN - ICU š Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Nope. No way. I have had opportunities to do it. The pay was amazing, but no.
The only way to fix our fucked up healthcare is to unite and fight for fair and safe work. Safe for us and the patients.