Letter template for you to use - CDSW

The Essential But Forgotten petition taking shape!

Here is another letter for you to use as a template. This was written by my dear colleague Elizabeth to her MLA.

Dear Peter Guthrie,

As a disability support worker for over 6 years, I am writing to urge you to increase the wages of Community Disability Workers. Although my work is important, demanding, and makes a significant difference in people’s lives and society, I do not feel valued, respected, or appreciated as the Government of Alberta does not provide adequate funding for proper and competitive wages in this sector.

This was evident when the Alberta government was distributing the “essential service worker $1200.00,” but our sector was completely overlooked. It appeared that the Premier and Chief medical officer didn’t recognize our sector at all and categorized us as Nonessential.

Unfortunately, this reality is driving many of my co-workers to explore other career paths where they will be properly compensated and valued for the work that they do. The downside of this is it results in a shortage of staff and the individual we support suffer since most workers will leave due to high job expectations and low wages to compensate for all of their efforts.

As an example, working as an Awake Overnight staff, I do not get a differential in pay but other sectors do get such differentials. With the frequent staff turnover, the individuals we support are in constant anxiety moods as most of them prefer consistency. Having no staff available to work in the disability sector due to low wages, being overworked, and having no room for job advancement, will not only reduce the quality of services that people receive, but the quality of life and safety of Albertans with disabilities will also suffer.

With the current inflation, the price of everything has increased tremendously. The increase in gas prices is another story to write about. Drive 600 km a week to work on a $20 an hour wage is no fun. I had to sacrifice time away from my husband and kids 3 days every week to accommodate the increase in gasoline as well as to cope with the toll those long drives were taking on my back.

We need to be recognized, respected, and valued as the worthy employees we are. This can be shown by increasing our wages to a living wage to reflect what we do daily and keeping the community and our individuals safe.

Unless wages are increased, adults with a disability across the Province of Alberta will be supported by fewer, less experienced, and more inconsistent staff.
 
I urge you to take this matter seriously and share it with your government colleagues. It is imperative that the wages of people working in disability services be increased now to ensure the stability of a skilled and experienced workforce that will provide the quality services that all Albertans with a disability deserve.

Thank you, your attention to this important matter. Looking forward to receiving your feedback.
 
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Tientchieu