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CHCC working on nurses’ wages
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is currently finalizing the proposal to increase the wages of its nurses.
CHCC CEO Esther Muña told Saipan Tribune that she and hospital administrator Jesse Tudela would be meeting with nursing managers this week to finalize the proposal.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, nurses were promised a wage increase by this summer. Muña said they are working on the proposal but it takes time and resources.
Newly hired nurses make $25,000 a year and this has been the case since 2006.
Recently, nurses have voiced their frustrations regarding their promised wages and have started to believe that there is a possibility that it may not happen.
Muña said the process takes time and other issues need to be considered, such as legal and finance issues.
According to Muña, the government should be required to foot the wage adjustment so that hospital rates are not compromised.
“If the government does not pay for these adjustments, hospital rate changes will have to be made,” she said.
Regardless if the government were to pay for the adjustments or not, the Commonwealth Health Center would still consider adjusting hospital rates.
Although an increase in hospital rates is a possible adjustment to be made, Muña conceded that the hospital is still considerate of the Commonwealth population and its needs.
“We have to ensure that the rate increases are reasonable and appropriate for our unhealthy population,” said Muña.
