KNA And Its Union Separate

            On July 8, 2008 the National Labor Relations Board granted petitions (Amendment of Certification Petitions) filed by the KNA to permit the KNA Collective Bargaining Division to become its own independent union, separate from the KNA.  Effective immediately upon the signing and approval of those petitions on July 8^th, the KNA Collective Bargaining Division became the Southern United Nurses (SUN).

            SUN is a newly formed and independent union that is not affiliated with the KNA.  As a result of this transition, SUN is the collective bargaining agent for the new union and the KNA no longer services a union.

            The effects of these developments on the KNA are expected to be positive, despite the initial loss of just over five hundred members.  While KNA membership numbers will drop, the financial impact will be positive.  During the last couple of years, the KNA’s expenses related to servicing the union exceeded the income provided by the union.  In addition, union-related costs were unpredictable and often sizeable.  The transition out of the union business will allow the KNA to stabilize its operating budget and more accurately project expenses and income in the future.  KNA expects the departure of the union to better position the KNA for growth and investment in new and progressive membership services and benefits.

KNA will actively encourage the members that have moved to SUN to join the KNA as individuals, even though they are no longer members through their union.   In addition, the KNA looks forward to embracing its future with a renewed energy and fresh perspective that will be channeled into an upcoming Membership Recruitment and Retention campaign to promote the benefits and value of the KNA to RNs throughout Kentucky.