A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Some of you people below need a union - sm

Posted: Apr 19, 2011

Rather than turning against each other as some of you are starting to do below, it would be really great if you had a union, one that worked to make sure you are treated fairly and rules aren't changed that make it harder for you to do your work and make a living.

Amen to that - XTR

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I've said that before here and got shot down, but I still think it's the only way for us to climb back up out of the hole we've been dumped into by the corporations that have taken over this field. They are counting on us not unionizing. They "forbid" us to talk to fellow employees for fear of our finding out what others earn in the same company, plus that also keeps us from getting together to mount any kind of unionization. In order to unionize a company you need a certain percentage of the employees to agree by a vote to unionize, and that can't happen unless the employees are in contact with each other. These companies know what they're doing with union-busting, and they are terrified of us getting together in any kind of way. Divide and conquer, keep us biting at each other, and they win.

Sign me up - murdea

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I'm onboard with that! If we had formed a union years ago none of us would be in this position. Time to stop complaining and start taking action.

I second that emotion! ;) - Union - YES !!!! n/m

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Norma Rae did not begin by standing on a table - sweetgirlsmom

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Children stand there and say no. Adults who act like that will be thought of like that. You destroy your credibility and will not be respected later.

MTs who claim to be professionals should act like professionals. Norma Rae spent time with a union organizer who knew about unions and the best way to proceed. He did not jump in right away, but assessed the situation first.

If you are serious about any cause, document and research. Why do you need this? What do you hope to accomplish? How does this work? What can they do or not do? Are there more than one? Which is best for us? Talk to people in the industry who understand the issues and the businesses involved. Has anyone tried this before? (Yes, in my hospital. Several departments joined. MTs refused after we heard the details).

A well thought out and well organized approach is much more effective.

But it had to begin somewhere. - XTR

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And I do consider myself a professional, a professional that now cannot afford the medical care that I type up every day for other people because of low wages and greedy corporations who throw us chicken feed and keep the big bucks for themselves. Just making a statement for 15 minutes - and I think MT Week is a perfect time for it - is a great start, a clear statement that will not hurt us financially or our companies or jeopardize patient care. 15 minutes of not working can be explained away by the more reluctant among us as "taking a break" or some other acceptable abscence. The power and statement here is in numbers. Just one or two people doing it is nothing... the power is in numbers, the statement is more like an "ahem..." to the corporations, not an all-out slap in the face full-on strike, and enough to get some attention. And by the way, I have researched unions and union organizing, and this is one way to see how much actual rank-and-file support there is with the masses to see if a union will work. If the status quo works for you, then God bless you, you've got everything you need. Just stand back and let the rest of us do what we need to do. Everyone else, beware of union busters comeing in here and discouraging you from standing up for yourself, your rights, your livelihood, and your profession.

Was it something I said? - SaltyMT

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I guess so.

I think you're absolutely right - sm

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The power is definitely in numbers. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the discouragement is beginning already. Has anyone else noticed that all the posts from BettieBGood and the first post from SaltyMT have suddenly disappeared?

MT week would be a perfect time. I don't think the amount of time matters, but the number of people who participate.

TOS - gotta stick to it

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I dont recall what SaltyMT said but BBG's posts directed you to another site which you're not allowed to do.

I don't think so - sm

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I've seen many people do that on here and their posts were not all removed. I really don't think her reference to another site was the reason that her posts were removed.

her link - gotta stick to it

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took you to a Twitter account where she discussed MTSTARS. Violation.

Where does it say - sm

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that discussing MT stars on Twitter is a violation?

I've seen many people post links on here to other websites, and you don't see ALL of their posts being removed. Her posts were removed because she was talking about a strike.

Since you apparently are - not able

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to look for yourself:

7.Do not redirect posters to other forums, blog sites, selling sites, social media platforms, etc.

There ya go! TOS violation.

Once again - :-)

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I see references to other links on here all the time, from articles to YouTube videos, and you don't see all other posts from such persons removed.

Done. :-)

Look further down on this very thread - sm

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There is a post signed Food for Thought with a LINK to another SITE.

that link has nothing to do with diverting to another site - it links an article

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I give up on the reading comprehension here, it must be optional.

An article which is where? - sm

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ON ANOTHER WEBSITE!

My reading comprehension is just fine, you nasty thing.

Have a nice day!! :-)

Seriously? - 15 minutes

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Do you REALLY think being absent for 15 minutes is going to a) get noticed b) make an impact c) change ANYTHING?

15 minutes is NOTHING and won't even make a ripple in the pond.

Y'all just kill me with the wackadoodle things you come up with.

And I'm not a "union buster" given there is no UNION, just a bunch of ticked off people who obviously remain clueless about the way this profession is run.

well said. never going to happen. - anon

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but it keeps the kids busy and makes them feel better.

One thing I've learned in all my years is: - Never say "never". NM

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:-)

ok. Union -- NOT going to happen. - my reality is your fantasy.

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x

and if it does I am ready to take your jobs when on strike - they fire for that you know.

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buh-bye

GREAT!!! :-) - Have FUN

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in the sweatshop.

BUH-BYE!!

You only need 51%, not 100 - Bettie_Bgood

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So, there are plenty of MTs out there who say, "never." But I think there could possibly be enough - just enough - who think "now's the time." I'm reminded of how Obama had the idea, we need to have a "supermajority" - 60% - to pass anything in the Senate - and he got a lot of criticism - no, you only need 51%. So I'm a 51-percenter, when it comes to unions. Thanks for sharing your point of view.

doesn't matter. not going to happen. - sweet dreams

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.

I do agree with one thing - 15 minutes would not do muc of anything

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The strength comes in numbers, and this would have to continue long enough for there to be a real effect on the work.

No, we are not clueless. Many of us have been in this profession for a number of years, and the profession was not always run this way.

I don't think it is a "wackadoodle" thing to have the expectation of your employer to follow labor laws, regardless of where you work.

Whether a union would be effective for the transcription profession or not, it's still good to see people actually try to be part of a solution, rather than just come on here and complain their day away.

But that's just me. :-)

Never hear me complaining - 15 minutes

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I don't ever come here and complain about my job. I love my job. Of course, I have come on here and commented about my job and shared that it's a good gig and I'm paid well and treated well. But then people (was going to say like you but since I don't know you won't phrase it that way) diss me and accuse me of bragging or being better than someone or a suit or whatever the insult of the day is when there is no intelligent reply to be had.

What I don't get and maybe will never get, is why an MT would work for a company when they say they do not follow labor laws, or treat them badly, or abuse them in some other way. THAT really *IS* wackadoodle in my view. Right up there with thinking 15 minutes of not working will even be noticed let alone make any kind of difference.

In my view, the MTs working for the companies who violate all these things they complain about, do MORE by refusing work AT ALL for these companies. As long as you have MTs who are willing to take those jobs, then I don't think they have a right to complain when the job sucks.

Now I have to get back to my good-paying, AM who appreciates me, mutual loyalty job because I've spent 15 minutes on MTStars and they might think I'm on strike.

never hear me complaining - Nina

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Great answer. I don't complain about my job either . . I'm just glad I have a job (I actually have 2). Those of you who are on here complaining every day . . . I'm sure there are plenty of MT's who would be thankful to have your jobs. I think I'm being paid very well for what I do, my bills are paid and I still have extra money to do a few fun things on my days off.

here we go again - as if we have not discussed this before. - ANON 25-yr-rerun

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,

May be too late; train left the station years ago; good article; One went from Steelworker to MT - Food for thought

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For those thinking that Unions are the answer to the plight of the poor Medical Transcriptionist, the following article and chart may be of some interest. There are a lot of former Union members who were not helped. In the end, they lost their job anyway, even with Union representation.

(Funny coincidence – one former Union member of the United Steelworkers of America now works as a Medical Transcriptionist. Small world, isn’t it!!)

Interesting recent article about the decline of Unions in the United States. The article is primarily about Wisconsin, but the chart gives the decline of Union membership for the United States as a whole (1975 to 2010).

A good read.

Article about decline of Unions:

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_fe67703e-6855-11e0-9b38-001cc4c03286.html

Chart reflecting the decline between 1975 and 2010:

http://host.madison.com/article_4b654924-67a7-11e0-8a9a-001cc4c002e0.html

No thanx to a union - Will never support a union

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A union would only make more MT companies offshore. From what I see with my husband's job, unions no longer help employees anyway, they are just money grubbers like the MT companies. There is nothing that is going to stop the downslide of the MT profession.

Agree with you there...unions just want your dues - wimt

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Then they can send your money to the politicians that you don't necessarily support and use it in all kinds of ways that you wouldn't choose.

Exactly! - Will never support a Union

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They are crooks just like the politicians, whom they serve.

The worst union in the world would still beat the bejezus - out of AHDI on its best day.....(sm)

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... that is, if AHDI ever even HAD a good day, to begin with.

Count me in! - wannabeuniongirl

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What do we do?

Something anyone can do...right now - Bettie_Bgood

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Is think of what things you would like to change about your job - I find different people have different concerns. So that's a starting point - getting a list of 10 grievances/wishes/hopes - whatever you want to call it. I actually keep a piece of paper near my computer while I work, so I can jot things down. Yes, I just picked the number 10 out of thin air. But it's a good exercise, to get the wheels turning.

can we stop this now? again. rah rah - go march on washington or something.

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x

No, we cannot, and WILL NOT stop! - sm

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I, for one, am gathering information on unions. Whether this is the answer or not, I don't know.

But I can tell one thing. The tides are turning. You can tell. Union talk aside, just think about the other things that are happening. People are opening cases with their labor boards, consulting with attorneys. The days of the at-home transcriptionist sitting back and putting up with the nonsense that can go on with these companies are becoming fewer and fewer, and it's about time. We all have a voice, and it's time to start using it.

No one is trying to force you or anyone else to do anything whatsoever. If you are happy in your present job, have plenty of work, and are making all the money you need, then I am truly happy for you and God bless.

Those who want to organize with us, please do. (That is your right, by the way, to do just that if you wish.) Those who are opposed to the idea can skip over these posts and move on. I am not here to argue with you.

Yes, the list of grievances is a very good place to start. I am working on one now.

I Do want to march on Washington :) - Bettie_Bgood

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Now that's what I call "tons'o'fun." I've never marched on Washington before. Would be great to have a 1-million-health-care-professional march in Washington DC, wouldn't it? We could get it all out there...public option health care, pay for lab techs, nurses, MTs and docs, get insurance companies out of the mix - WOW - what a great idea! I say "rah-rah" to that too!

Thanks for your sharing your perspective, and unintentionally brilliant idea. Bettie luvs ya! :)

I agree - MARCH!! - nm

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x

I'm LOVING that idea!! - nm

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x

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