Proposes New Dues Structure to Support MNA and its Participation in New Organization
By Beth Piknick, RN
On July 16, the MNA Board of Directors signed off on a draft of the constitution for the new national nurses union and is preparing for a vote on the issue by the membership in October. The new RN "super union" is being founded by the unification of the MNA, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) and the United American Nurses (UAN). In addition, the Board has drafted a proposal for a change in dues policy to support the MNA’s affiliation with the new national union, while also maintaining the MNA’s current position as the strongest voice and union for registered nurses in the commonwealth.
The decision on the MNA’s affiliation with the new national, as well as for the proposed supporting dues structure, will be made by the membership at the annual business meeting on October 1, 2009 during the MNA convention at the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster on Cape Cod. To help educate members about these important proposals, the Board has scheduled a series of ten membership meetings (two in each Region) in August and September 2009.
The possible formation of the 150,000-member national nurses union represents a stunning development in the history of nursing, creating the largest organization of direct care nurses in the history of the United States! For MNA members, it means we remain who we are—with the leadership you have chosen, with the same staff, resources and representation that have made us the voice for nurses in Massachusetts—while adding national allies and a stronger national voice to protect our contracts, advance our agenda and promote our patient advocacy role in keeping with our mission and goals.
The organization’s proposed constitution was drafted with input from a delegation of MNA leaders and it sets forth the objectives and governing structure of the new organization. It will also ensure a prominent MNA role and voice in the future of this important RN movement to reshape health care in America.
- The Objectives of the New National Union
- The Time is NOW for a National RN Union
- A National Voice Can Mobilize Nursing’s Voice and Power to Change Health Care
- How the New National Union Came to Be
- The Proposed New Dues Structure
- Be there on Oct. 1 to Cast Your Vote on the New National!
- MNA Hosts Regional Meetings for Members
- RN "Super Union" Newsletter (pdf)
- Proposed Constitution (pdf)
- Request for Mail Ballot Form (pdf)
- National Nurses United Main Page
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