Hospital workers

Press, 21 November 1987, Page 22

Hospital workers

Sir,—Regarding the strike by hospital workers for parity between private and public rates of pay, 1 ' many people will be concerned and some critical because

of the Interruption to medical processes and because patients and residents of rest homes are seen as vulnerable "victims.” However, domestic service is typically one of the femaleintensive occupations which, although patently essential, is seen as “women’s work” and in our society is, consequently, considerably undervalued and underpaid. As an occupational group they are unfairly disadvantaged, not only by gender factors in pay rates, but also by choice, range and availability of employment. Some are sole income earners for their families. Hourly rates are: $7.53 (public hospital); $7.26 (private hospital); $6.54 (rest homes). We commend them for their justifiably assertive stance in what is but a modest claim for parity. — Yours, etc., ANNE FRANKLAND, ROBYN GORDON, EVELYN McIVER, JULIE ARMSTRONG, CAROL STRATFORD, MARY KINCAID. November 19, 1987.