Dear Editor
Nurses are paid $71,240 for their first year on the job compared to $46,419 for first year teachers.
After six years, the top of their salary grid, nurses receive $92,476 per annum while a teacher's salary is $62,328 at that point in time - not quite what a starting nurse collects. After 15 years of experience, the top salary for teachers, they are paid $73,036 - less than $2,000 more than that of a beginning nurse. Something does not add up.
Granted, due to paid leave, nurses work 245 days in years one to three, 240 in years four to14, 235 in years 15 to 24, and 230 for 25 and more years compared to 197 days for teachers. Also, nurses work shift work that has its negative consequences.
I think the gap between nurses' and teachers' salaries is still unfair and must be addressed by the provincial government. If we don't start to respect the work of teachers by paying them a decent wage many of the better ones will leave the profession. Is this what we want?
Rick Sawa
Prince Albert
