Nearly 15,000 disability workers across Alberta are calling on the provincial government to resolve what they claim is a "staffing crisis" impacting their ability to provide essential services.."Workers are currently organizing public events to be announced in protest of low wages and staffing issues in the province," Alberta Disability Awareness in Action collective spokesperson Dale Cena told the Western Standard.."They are determined to resolve the current staffing crisis that is impacting our ability to provide essential services.".Alberta Disability Awareness and Action is a non-unionized collective of roughly 15,000 disability workers across Alberta.."We are a nonprofit organization solely funded through the Government of Alberta called persons with developmental disabilities (PDD)," Cena said..On Nov. 9, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued a mandate letter to Minister of Seniors, Community, and Social Services Jeremy Nixon to keep the inflation and affordability crisis top of mind.."Affordability is the primary challenge facing Albertans today, and as a government, we will ensure that Alberta families are able to manage through this storm by taking decisive action in the coming weeks and months," Smith said in the letter.."Albertans are counting on us, and they rightfully expect their government to address the challenges they are facing with our full attention and action.".Cena told the Western Standard that most employees are finding it tough with the rising living costs as they struggle to fill their gas tanks with an average wage across the sector at $18.76 per hour.."Members of our collective have not seen a wage increase since 2014. Yet, since that time, the cost of living has increased by 15% and the average hourly wage in Canada across all sectors has increased by more than 27%," Cena said.."This has had an extremely negative impact on our field. Disability worker retention rates have fallen dramatically, making it extremely difficult for community-based employers to recruit qualified staff to provide essential services to Albertans with disabilities.".Cena claimed some workers are required to use their own vehicles to transport clients to programming and are not reimbursed for gas and travel. Those working in community settings, according to Cena, are the ones calling out to Alberta's government for a wage increase.."Smith has announced that there will be changes and that they are going to fix the staffing crisis across Alberta. But we are saying we've waited eight years. We're tired of fatigue and it's impacting the most vulnerable citizens of Alberta right now. We are very hopeful with the changes coming forward," Cena said..Cena is therefore calling on Alberta's government to help remedy "this situation" as workers begin to plan rallies across the province.."The collective is calling on the Government of Alberta to begin a conversation with disability workers aimed at finding ways to support the thousands of us that provide an essential service to our society," Cena said..The Western Standard reached out to Alberta's government for comment, but one was not received.
Nearly 15,000 disability workers across Alberta are calling on the provincial government to resolve what they claim is a "staffing crisis" impacting their ability to provide essential services.."Workers are currently organizing public events to be announced in protest of low wages and staffing issues in the province," Alberta Disability Awareness in Action collective spokesperson Dale Cena told the Western Standard.."They are determined to resolve the current staffing crisis that is impacting our ability to provide essential services.".Alberta Disability Awareness and Action is a non-unionized collective of roughly 15,000 disability workers across Alberta.."We are a nonprofit organization solely funded through the Government of Alberta called persons with developmental disabilities (PDD)," Cena said..On Nov. 9, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued a mandate letter to Minister of Seniors, Community, and Social Services Jeremy Nixon to keep the inflation and affordability crisis top of mind.."Affordability is the primary challenge facing Albertans today, and as a government, we will ensure that Alberta families are able to manage through this storm by taking decisive action in the coming weeks and months," Smith said in the letter.."Albertans are counting on us, and they rightfully expect their government to address the challenges they are facing with our full attention and action.".Cena told the Western Standard that most employees are finding it tough with the rising living costs as they struggle to fill their gas tanks with an average wage across the sector at $18.76 per hour.."Members of our collective have not seen a wage increase since 2014. Yet, since that time, the cost of living has increased by 15% and the average hourly wage in Canada across all sectors has increased by more than 27%," Cena said.."This has had an extremely negative impact on our field. Disability worker retention rates have fallen dramatically, making it extremely difficult for community-based employers to recruit qualified staff to provide essential services to Albertans with disabilities.".Cena claimed some workers are required to use their own vehicles to transport clients to programming and are not reimbursed for gas and travel. Those working in community settings, according to Cena, are the ones calling out to Alberta's government for a wage increase.."Smith has announced that there will be changes and that they are going to fix the staffing crisis across Alberta. But we are saying we've waited eight years. We're tired of fatigue and it's impacting the most vulnerable citizens of Alberta right now. We are very hopeful with the changes coming forward," Cena said..Cena is therefore calling on Alberta's government to help remedy "this situation" as workers begin to plan rallies across the province.."The collective is calling on the Government of Alberta to begin a conversation with disability workers aimed at finding ways to support the thousands of us that provide an essential service to our society," Cena said..The Western Standard reached out to Alberta's government for comment, but one was not received.
