E-Bulletin

For March 14th, 2013

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Budget 2013 First Look With the release of the 2013/14 Provincial Budget, the Alberta Disability Workers Association is pleased with the success of our members efforts in keeping MLAs and government officials informed about the staffing crisis in PDD contracted agencies. PDD contracted agency staff were recognized in this years budget, for the work that you do with a significant allocation to wages and benefits. An amount equivalent to 10% has been earmarked towards wages and benefits by the department even with the difficult financial situations and governments limited funding abilities this year. While this is not the promised 15%, the department and Associate Minister Frank Oberle have committed to extending the promise of 30% to a four (4) year roll-out, instead of their original 3 year promise of 5%-15%-10%. This means that about $25 million from this years money has been deferred to the 2015/2016 fiscal year. There is a caution though, that the while the dollars are targeted to wages and will go to staff, this is not an across-theboard increase. PDD and many of Albertas service providers have made it clear that the extra money should be used to stabilize programs that suffer from significant turn-over in staff; where low-wages negatively impact the agencys ability to deliver quality services to clients. Your ADWA Board supports any efforts to improve wages and benefits to staff. Its very important to us that those employees who exhibit great skills working with their service recipients; who see disability supports as a long-term career; and who upgrade their education and training, be adequately compensated for those abilities and career investments. We are not yet at the point where all workers are earning a wage commensurate with the work that they do. There is still a significant difference between what the Government of Alberta recognizes as appropriate wages and what agencies are contracted for. Once the new, additional funding is received by agencies, they will need to report to government on how it has been distributed to best address their personnel needs. Since each agency has differing staff challenges, we will likely see multiple approaches and outcomes as to how these funds are allocated, and how wage increases are delivered. ADWA encourages all agencies to ensure that all disability support staff across Alberta receive some increase in takehome-pay from this additional funding. In Alberta, our cost of living is continually increasing, and each person in this field should receive some recognition, even though there are those whose pay may be closer to target wages than others. This information is ultimately just a glance in the early days of the budget process. As the budget is debated and approved by the legislature, and as we know more about the effects and implementation within Human Services, PDD, and various regions and service providers, we will keep you informed through our e-bulletins, social media and a new web presence which will be online in the coming days.

Building a valued workforce. Promoting the well-being and potential of all Albertans.

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E-Mail: Phone: Fax: Mail: Web: disabilityworkers@gmail.com 780-666-4615 780.645.1885 4637-45 Ave. - St. Paul, Alberta T0A-3A3 AlbertaDisabilityWorkers.org