WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government announced the next phase of its 2014 commitment to continue to improve wages for workers who provide support to adults with intellectual disabilities.
“Workers who support members of the community with intellectual disabilities deserve to have fair and reasonable compensation” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba. “This work is integral to the well-being of our community, and we are pleased that the government has recognized the value of the work our members do”.
In July, 2014, CUPE members from Local 3085 at Community Living Selkirk held info pickets outside the office of the Minister of Family Services, Kerri Irvin-Ross, calling on the government to improve wages for direct service workers.
In August, 2014, the province committed $6 million in wage enhancements to help top-up the wages of the lowest paid workers to help move them away from poverty-level wages.
Today the provincial government announced the newest instalments of the wage enhancement fund, which will see wages for residential direct service workers increase to a starting wage of $13.00 per hour beginning July 1, 2015, and $13.75 beginning January 1, 2016. The government also announced a new $15.13 minimum starting wage for house managers effective January 1, 2016.
“We are pleased that Minister Irvin-Ross is responsive to the needs of these important workers” says Moist. “CUPE applauds the Manitoba government’s ongoing commitment to support those who work with adults living with intellectual disabilities in residential settings. We are hopeful the government will soon extend these new minimum wages to other direct service workers, such as those who work in day programs throughout the province.”
Assisted Community Living organizations are non-profit support services that provide residential care to Manitobans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Services include 24-hour supervision, recreational supports, help with meals, medication, and integration into the community which helps Manitobans with intellectual disabilities live with dignity and respect.
CUPE Manitoba has representation on the province’s wage enhancement committee that was created to ensure workers’ voices are heard in the implementation of the wage enhancement fund and we continue to provide input to improve the reach of the fund.
CUPE Local 3085 represents approximately 100 employees at Community Living Selkirk and 120 more across the Interlake providing residential support services to Manitobans living with intellectual disabilities. CUPE Manitoba represents over 600 ACL workers province-wide.
See the full Government of Manitoba news release.