, 1958-01-24

HA~ A4ShAy oROloACA 0Qty ON " A1o ~ III G11AC0s SWC
is an asset to the doctor. to the hospital and the community
as a whole.
It does not take too much time and training to become
a truck driver. But it does take much time and training to
become a Nurse. The work Of this class of nurse about
whom ] am discussing, includes the following, but it is not
Limited: general nursing care, give the several types of
injection, give enemas, prepare a delivery room for the
midwife, prepare the OBJ bundle, assist with the delivery
of babies, work in the Cpd Of the hospital, administer
medicine to the patients referred to as sharing medicine),
write the charts and do other sundry Jobs in the tour of
duty She is required to work in the evenings and at
nights. which of course, is necessarily part of the tour of
duty. The truck driver Work-day terminates at five o'clock
in the afternoon. The same holds true of the Clerk ]. Sci
dom, if at all, that these two latter classes of employees
are called out on emergency duty or must work longer
hours because Of such. ThiS1i is done quite. often in the case
of the nurse. Atpresent the nurses do not obtain the bene-
fit Of the several holidays which are legal here in the Vir-
gin Islands : and there are about Is of such holidays. True
enough the hospitals and clinics cannot close on holidays
las a matter OF fact these are the days when accidents most
frequently occur but some method could be worked out
wherein they could derive the benefit or privileges as the
other employee do. During this week there would be two
holidays and, next week, there would be one = and coming
soon = the Virgin Islands Carnival would usher in some
more holidays. The clerks in the Health Department, as
other clerks also, would be at home or where they choose,
and they would be on pay for such time land why not), but
the nurses must work on those days with no time off for
such when, and if, such could be spared. Thus you see
under what conditions the nurses must work Il may men
ton here that their work put them in a position where
they are exposed to every kind Of disease known in the
medical book. whether communicable or not : it is expect
ed. Then, why shouldn't they receive the compensation
commensurate with the responsibilities and the hazards of
the position9
Now, Mr.. President have given the facts in detail, as
| know them, with the view that you would study the mat
ter (over), and if there exists any doubt, that YOU cause an
investigation to be made. feel sure you would find them
as described. Therefore, what is.needed in the case of the
"Practicals,' would be a salary adjustment. thus bringing
tbs m to the standard where they justly belong,
and then to that the 5 could be-added. This would be
the most logical and fair method of handling a situation
such as this. The same would hold true for the Nurse
Aides. TO give you an idea Of what the salary Of the Prac-
t~icaHcouEd be referto the first salary they received in
this position $500 inadequate as it was) it was onlv
$3.50 per annum less than the other nurses. Now they are
more efficient they receive $4,000 pa. less than the
same nurses, Isn't this ridiculous? Again, T refer you to the
salaries OF the Clerk I and the Truck Driver ], and to the
labcrer5on the Public Works Dept. etc.
trust you would accept this letter in the same good