A strike was averted this week. The Mexican government and health care workers at public hospitals across the nation agreed to a contract. Wages will rise modestly; benefits have been cut.
A nurse will now be paid 3683 pesos ($344) a month. Salaries for doctors are not much higher. They make 4913 pesos ($460) a month. Retirement benefits are paid after 35 years of service. Pensions have been reduced from 130% of salary to 100%. This public hospital system provides health care for about 40 million of the 105 million Mexicans living in this country. According to Cynthia, my Spanish teacher, many of the taxi drivers in Mexico City are doctors. They make more money in a cab.
The minimum wage is 40 pesos ($3.76) for 8 hours of work. The grocery baggers at the supermarkets are generally school age boys or old women and they aren't paid at all. Knowing that can change your attitude about tipping.
Locals have told me that Puerto Vallarta has a strong economy and that jobs are available. There are a lot of cell phones and new cars about. The neighborhoods do not look wealthy but cruel poverty is not apparent. My world is small though. I have not been out to the dump.
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