_—_ _ Freeing from old traditions nursing By NORA JARBEAU Are nurses beginning to re- ject the age-old idea of service for small remuneration? Only a few short years ago nurses ac- cepted the idea of bargaining for wages and better working condi- tions. Many nurses even today, are made to believe by manage- ment that the right to strike in a contract is unethical or un- professional, that the patient will suffer neglect during a strike, never seeming to realize that management has the _first obligation to the patient by ac- ceding to the just rights of bar- gaining in good faith. As is well known, nurses can- not have a five-day week with . every weekend off and must work all shifts — days, even- ings, and nights. Because of this, nurses seem prone to settle for the compressed work week in some instances. Resorting to the 10-12 hour day, three or four days a week is a_ retrograde step. The struggle for the eight- hour day was long and difficult. How much better it would be to have a shorter work week or a shorter work day e.g., a 32-hour week or a six or seven hour day, with the same take home pay. Nursing is at best an emer- gent profession, still freeing it- self from. the traditions and practices of a dependent, auth- ority-oriented occupation. As in other occupations nurses are seeking equality and identity. In the nursing profession the trend is to persuade nurses to adopt the idea of a life-long career and prepare for it, dis- carding the old idea that wo- men’s place is in the home. Such BRITISH COLUMBIA The Royal Commission on the Status of Women was set up in February, 1967. Deep concerns of women in respect to their status in Canada was shown in no uncertain terms by the 468 briefs and about 1,000 letters which were received by the Com- mission — more representations than for any other Royal Com. mission ever held in the history of Royal Commissions in Canada. Public Hearings by the Com- mission began in April, 1968, and after hearings were held in 14 cities and 10 provinces, the re- port was submitted to the Gover- nor General in Council on Sep- tember 28, 1970. : Unlike many Royal Commis- sion reports which were tabled and became, in the main, only dust gatherers, the report on the Status of Women was viewed: by Canadian women as a serious document, and that its’ recom- mendations should be_ imple- - mented. It served as an inspira- tion to many women and gave encouragement to women’s or- ganizations to fight for equality. Two Priorities The two main priorities were considered by Vancouver wom- en, meeting shortly after the: Royal Commission report was published. No. 1, Equal Pay and Equal Opportunity and No. 2, Child Care. There have been some small beginnings on these trends are good — but what is needed is a program for day, evening and night care centres for children, maternity leave with pay, equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities to at- tain the top and executive posi- tions, to help all women reach their goals. Is the right to strike for nurses unethical and unprofessional? two questions, e.g., amendments to the Human Rights Act in British Columbia; and also in B.C., the extension of the school system to include kindergartens. However, governments, both fed- erally and provincially fall far short of implementing the rec-. ommendations of the Royal Com- mission on the Status of Women. More than one third of the work force in Canada are women, one half of whom are married women. This means, of ‘course, that the majority of © women are still the homemakers and housewives who perform the laundry, family services of cleaning, cooking and child care. Discrimination against women in the home, by marriage laws, lack of child care facilities, pen- sion laws, widows’ compensa- tion, etc., is appalling, and no less than destructive to family life. New Organizations Organizations of women exist- ed all across Canada, prior to the tabling, of the report on The Status of Women, but since the report was tabled, many new or- ganizations in respect to wom- en’s rights have come into being, including some very active ones, especially the Status of Women organizations. For example, The Vancouver Status of Women in- cludes women from all walks of life who have been and are now, PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1974—PAGE8 . Farming—the good life? By RAUHA STENBERG Many studies have been made, commissions, surveys, all have shown that farm operating costs have escalated continuously. Now that the sharp increase in living costs have been mainly on food, its relationship to the Canadian producers of food is being questioned. Are more and more farmers spending winters in Florida or other milder climates?—because surely. the higher food prices must make them prosperous. Indeed, yes, the prices received for most farm products are higher — but the farmer, being a consumer also buys most of the same food and other items at the supermarket or grocery as do his city cousins. He also pays the current high prices for all other domestic needs, appli-. ances, farm equipment, and feeds. If a farmer receives fifty cents (average) for a dozen eggs, this is now around the “break-even” point, after all production .costs_ are considered. This also applies to cattle, hogs, and at times to grain producing. The net income of the average small farmer iis usually only equivalent to, or less than that which is considered the poverty level. Therefore, although his wife or children may contribute directly or indirectly to this in- come, it is only comparable to the income of one person. How do farm women react? One hears the comment, “It’s getting frightening’ ‘Where will it end?” One woman said: “Tll have to plant a larger gar- den, have more produce in the freezer and more preserves. We will use less sweets — the sugar engaged in the fight for child care, women’s rights, equal pay and equal opportunity. One of the most important or- ganizations, as far as the work- ing class is concerned are the Women’s Auxiliaries to the trade union movement, Although rela- tively small in number, they have been and still are very ef- fective organizations. Through many years of struggle the Women’s Auxiliaries have cam- ° paigned for women’s rights, for child care, and for an improved standard of living. They are also active in the struggles that not ‘only affect women and family life but are active on questions that affect people generally, including campaigns on issues that are in- ternational in scope, such as aid to the victims of the Vietnam war. They have made financial ' contributions to this worthy cause and many hours of time and effort have gone into knit- ting and sewing garments for the children of this war-torn nation. Two Examples To illustrate the scope of women’s auxiliary work, we will cite two examples of Women’s Auxiliaries that have been par- ticularly effective in British Co- lumbia — the Women’s Auxili- aries to the United Fishermen: and Allied Workers Union and the Women’s Auxiliaries to the International Longshoremen and prices will make this necessary.” This indicates a need to work more than the “average” 63 hours weekly. Money,is always a necessity. More and more farm women work outside their home, teach- ing, in banks, hospitals, senior citizens’ homes, local stores, etc. The added time spent outside ordinary daily chores in one case is a part time school bus driver. She also has four school age children and one pre-school- er. She lives 10 miles from’ town and weekly trips are necessary. There are many similar cases where women who don’t have outside jobs still have added cost and time driving children considerable distances to vari-_ ous outings. When rural youth go to the the Thorhild community.” The results showed average age to be 46-50 years; average hows per week — 63; average hours worked per day — nine (seven ae ; a week). “The two most time-consuming jobs are cooking and be ing, and washing dishes. Women spend an average of.20 hours P© — week on the former and 10 hours per week on the latter. ie “Children spend little time helping their mother. Most assist abov” 10 hours a week. During the busy months of July, August and ee tember a woman’s day is usually 16 hours long. August is by fof the woman's busiest month of the year. ae “Monday is the busiest day of the week. One half the wome? work the most hours on this day, with Friday and Saturday as clos? seconds. Many farm women worked side by side with their husbands in the field and served as a ‘handy man’ for him. “Permit me to leave you with this thought: ‘Are farm women @M titled to financial remuneration (perhaps in the form of salary of wages) for their labor in the home and on the farm?’ ” -Many-sided role of Auxiliaries Warehouseman’s Union. In the fight for an adequate Coast Guard to safeguard the lives of fishermen and seamen, the Women’s Auxiliaries did out- standing work and in fact, were a dominant force in this struggle with the result that new coast guard vessels were built. Presentations to the govern- ments, municipal, provincial and federal have been made by the Auxiliaries on questions of the environment, against the sell-out of natural resources, taxation, health and many other issues. They have made many fine con- tributions by presenting letters and resolutions to the govern- ment in respect to armaments, the Viet Nam war, the middle east crisis, the plight of the Chilean refugees and many others. Auxiliaries have partici- pated in the campaign to aid the farm workers in California. The women are now active in the struggle against inflation by aid- ing in the campaign to roll back prices. In fact, the fight against © high prices, as far as B.C. work- ers are concerned, was initiated by the Auxiliaries to the U.F.- A.W.U. in 1973. International Women’s Day In addition to these many and varied activities the women’s Auxiliaries have joined in and shared the activities in respect to International Women’s Day cele- skiing equipment this year? AUUVCAUENOAUUEUOUEOAUOOOUEOUOUEEOOEEOUUEOOENOOUCOOUEREOUEAUUEOOUEOAEEOUEOUEEA OOO EOE AAEEETEEE i In an article in the Thorhild, Alta., County Star of Jan. 12, Judi | Wozniak, a fourth year education student, presents findings from a survey of farm women in the area. Here are excerpts from her reper "Eighty-seven questionnaires were sent out to wives of farmeé i | who had no income from a full-time or part-time job. In completift the questionnaire, the participants wrote down the number of hou they spent on certain household activities. From the 50 replies, averaged the results into an unpaid work week for farm women _ are sharing in activities city for higher education, the travel cost added to the major cost, board and room, is an im: portant factor. They usually come home on weekends, espe cially the first year — depend: ing on mother’s resourcefulness to cut down on: their living costs. Rush, mother, do a little more preserving, raise more chickens, have own sewing mé chine in condition! How many” ways can you be more efficient to help these youngsters prepale for the rat race? May they have a good life — partake in the affluence, Mean = while, let’s all enjoy the beaut ful sunsets, fresh air, weekends at the lake. There’s that ski slope in winter — can he buy of brations and have helped in send ing a delegate to the World Co gress of Women, in 1963 and 1968. ; While many women’s orgal izations are concerned W!,, women’s rights questions, it } the women of the workingme?” — household that experience ~ i worst features of discriminaU and exploitation. The pio” lems in relation to child cat’ health, housing, education, on tural life and almost any quer tion one can think of are SU” fered by the working class f@ e ily, and it is therefore partie larly important that the wom a of the. working class familie should be organized in order 4 fight against discrimination ae protect and guard family life: According to government can tistics, over 25% of the pop le tion live below the poverty !¢ en and it is almost unbelievabl' that 50% of this group are “Wy ; ployed. This means that fay f life in Canada is threatened ™ eo dire poverty of many of thos" who work for a living. d8 id As old attitudes towa ” women slowly change, men, ie # were once generally thought ye as “women’s work”. We “at eventually learning that by rae and women working and figh¥le together, a better standar living for all can be achieved: