Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Personnel changes have been made to LBJ Hospital’s top management following nurses walking out in a strike last month.

On Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer Moefaauo Bill Emmsley reassigned Human Resources Director Savali Sunia-Ulutu, and the position is being advertised.

This was confirmed in a memorandum dated January 3, 2023 and issued by the CEO on Wednesday and obtained by Samoa News.

It’s unclear where the former HR director has been assigned as Samoa News reached out to the CEO Moefaauo for comments but there has been no response as of press time.

 Controller Tiilili Tone-Maiieaoteea has since been appointed as Acting Director of the hospital’s HR Department.

“The reassignment of Ms. Savali Sunia-Ulutu compelled me to select an acting director for Human Resources to fill the impeding vacancy.

“As such, I hereby, appoint, Ms. Tulili, on a temporary basis, to maintain the continuity of Human Resource's operation, while said post of Director for HR is being advertised and eventually filled,” said Moefaauo.

The CEO said Tulili's interim post shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until further notice.

“Tulili shall have full authority to operate at her new capacity, in accordance to standard policies, established procedures, and approved chain of command structure.

“As usual, please extend to Tulili your usual support and afford her with proper courtesies, befitting to the office she is about to occupy.”

The CEO copied Board Chairman Dr. Malouamaua Tuiolosega, and Fala Sualevai-Lesa, Chief Financial Officer in his memorandum.

The hospital has been in the public’s eye after nurses walked out from their assigned ward at the hospital and instigated a strike against the hospital management over their unpaid excess leave and unpaid salary adjustments last month.

This week, Moefaauo told Samoa News that close to half a million dollars has been budgeted for the nurses pay adjustments and to pay for their excess leave.

“Yes every nurse [received their salary adjustments], we also paid out their excess leave. A total of $50,000 was paid out for all their excess leave and their salary adjustments amounted to $375,000,” said Moefaauo.

“The nurses deserve the salary adjustment — but they were not patient — because it was all part of the plan. But what they did was uncalled for; I mean it’s their right, but they should have been patient,” he said.

BACKGROUND

As reported earlier, the nurses submitted a grievance letter to Moefaauo, which included several recommendations including adjustment to the salaries for the Nursing Manager, at entry level for the Registered Nurses; Licensed Practical Nurses; Certified Nurses Assistants and Orderly Clerk.

“If staff receives the … pay scale, we will no longer ask for time and a half for overtime, but the regular rate only,” the letter stated.

Another important point with the nurses was staffing, which apparently is still to be addressed. 

The nurses pointed out that the level of staffing is critically unsafe, and outlined the recommended nurse patient ratios in accordance with the National Nurses United, the largest Union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S history.

The nurses indicated they were advocating for safer ratios.

According to the CEO, “No one called the office and informed me about their concerns, nothing.”

He said the nurses walking out and striking was a “wakeup call for the hospital management and the board.

“By all means — as indicated in my press release — it is their freedom of speech and their right but please be patient; however if you are out of patience follow the proper protocols and procedure. I would have given them my whole afternoon if they knocked on my door, that’s all they had to do.

“And it’s a two-way-street. Now I am going to demand more from them in terms of performances,” he said.