September 12, 2018
Abilities Manitoba, Family Advocacy Network, and Alliance of Direct Support Professionals of Manitoba are collecting signatures to send to the Provincial Government letting them know the number of Manitobans who support living wages for direct support professionals.
Postcards can be picked up, filled out and dropped off at the St.Amant’s front desk at 440 River Road, no postage is necessary. A change.org petition can also be signed online https://bit.ly/DSPpetition.
Disability support staff are among the lowest paid human service workforces in Manitoba. Their work is undervalued and staff are paid significantly less than others working in comparable professions including health care aides and educational assistants. Low wages mean high turnover, staff shortages, huge overtime costs and difficulty recruiting staff with relevant knowledge and skills.
From the ages of 18-65, a Manitoban with an intellectual disability can expect to have more than 770 different staff providing very personal supports to them.
People deserve consistency in their lives. Staff who choose disability support work as a profession deserve a living wage. #ShowUsASign
