Reply #20: I would love to be a member of the union where I work

[Heddi]

(I'm a nurse). However, the union dues are based on annual salary and last year the dues for my salary range was around $1200 per year. Okay, not ALOT, but considering that I've got $10,000 in student loans AND I'm the only bread winner in my family AND my husband is in school and he's got his own loans piling up AND it costs $350 a month to cover my husband's insurance through my employer, I just could not afford it.

I wish it were a bit more affordable to be in the union. Especially considering this year, when the contract is renewed in November, the union dues are going to increase by about 3%---but my salary isn't increasing by the same amount. My salary will increase by about $.50 this year. wooo.

Sadly, many nurses at my hospital are in the same boat as I am---I live in a very small community with 2 hospitals and low wages (comparatively speaking). The union doesn't have as many members as it should have because many of the people I work with are single parents and can't afford to insure their kids, much less be in the union.

I should also state that come December, I have to drop my husband's insurance. The out of pocket expenses are going to increase in January and the amount I'd have to pay for him will go up by $50 a month. It's cheaper to pay out of pocket for medical expenses than to pay nearly $5,000 a year for insurance. And the insurance is HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE. It's really sad when a nurse that works at a hospital can't even afford to insure her family.