Happy Holidays Folks!
After a three month blogging vacation, we are back. I want to thank all the readers who emailed Patti and me, asking what is up, where we’re at, why no new posts….we’ve been busy with new jobs, new shifts, a family emergency and of course, the holidays. It’s hard to believe 2008 is almost over.
With that, 2009 promises to be an exciting AND scary year.
We are in the midst of a terrible economy, although CNA’s probably have the most secure jobs in America right now. We don’t earn enough money, though, to pay for the things we need- and it’s hitting many of us very hard. The cost of food alone eats up a big chunk of our pithy paychecks. Gasoline prices have dropped dramatically, yet we can’t afford to make car payments on our income. We’re lucky if we qualify for a loan!
State governments are slashing budgets left and right- and nursing homes are feeling the brunt of this. There isn’t going to be money for raises, or new equipment, or much else. In my area, we’re seeing entire nursing units close down due to lack of adequate funding- and with this comes actual lay offs of nurses and aides.
We have a new President, who many of us are looking forward to working with. Obama has an opportunity to really make a difference in the work CNA’s do- and for the residents, patients, clients we care for. Wages, health insurance and working conditions should improve under Obama’s watch. Let’s all hope!
One of the areas Obama has promised to move on, and quickly, is the Employee Free Choice Act. This is the legislation that, if passed, will make it much easier for workers to unionize. I have made a 180 degree turn on unions: WE NEED THEM now. Because we get screwed over too often. After reading endless articles about all these bail outs, and how the money is being wasted on retreats and jet planes and the like, it’s time to stand up and get what we deserve. In the long run, unions probably aren’t going to help us in our big picture goals. But for right now, these next few years, we need a voice.
The nursing home industry will see major changes in the next several years as well. Hospitals and other agencies will be changing too- in a big way. A national health care initiative will force the changes and we might not like all parts of it. But it will better than what we have right now.
We are about to witness history- although it’s wise not to place much faith in political leadership, somehow I believe this time is different.
What are your hopes for the next few years?
