Writer tackles PSW renumeration questions

To the Expositor:

There was an interesting letter to the Expositor in your April 16 issue. It was written by Greg Young and the sub-heading was ‘The demand for PSWs will be great, yet there is no incentive to join this field of work.’

A friend of mine is very grateful to have a PSW care for her elderly mother three times a week at four hours per shift. In this case, the PSW drives 60 km each way. Using Greg Young’s numbers, and my friends data, she earns $56 for four hours at $14/hr and $45.60 at 38 cents per kilometre. The round trip is about 1.5 hours @ 80 km/hr or $30.40/hr.

During the four hours, there is about a half hour for assisting onto chair in tub, showering, drying, dressing etc. Another half hour is sometimes direct assistance, but is mainly sitting and watching TV together or playing a game or visiting. My friend occasionally asks her PSW to prepare lunch. Once, a Mexico sticker was found on the apple cut into the fruit salad, but it was noticed before ingested.

It is very likely that PSWs employed in homes have a lower wage than they would receive in a hospital or retirement home setting due to the nature of the work and because they are also receiving payment for mileage which is not likely paid by institutions.

Most people do not get paid mileage to and from work and many still work for less than $14 after they have driven there on their own dime. Some people pay thousands of dollars for a university education and start at $20 per hour (no mileage pay). It is possible that PSWs are being told they should be getting more pay by union organizers (who would profit by the membership). Without a doubt, people need to be paid for services rendered but a PSW certificate can be earned on-line at a person’s convenience and compared to entry-level jobs, the pay is perhaps a bit higher.

So rather than complaining about the low wages, wouldn’t it be better to think of the benefit to the Island if there were 100 PSWs working 40 hours per week and driving to and fro getting mileage pay? That could be 100 jobs at equivalent of $35,000 per year to equal $3,500,000 directly to the Island economy. Nothing to sneeze at. And all sorts of spin offs like.