It’s not just a job.
It’s personal. It’s connection.
Chronic underfunding has had a huge effect on Manitoban workers who support our province’s most vulnerable people. Underfunding means low pay, limited resources, and constant turnover. That makes life harder for frontline workers and the people who rely on them.
In May 2023, the Manitoban Government announced an increase to create a baseline hourly rate of $19/hour for disability support staff and $20.90 for supervisors and program support. It resulted in wage increases for many workers and was a substantial step in the right direction.
Unfortunately, there are still support workers whose wage does not reflect the important work they do.
Did you know…?
In their lifetime, a person being supported will have approximately 770 support workers cycle in and out of their lives.
Support agencies report 20% to 50% turnover rates for direct support professionals (DSPs).
Families with adult children with intellectual disabilities often wait more than 10 years for access to residential services.
For all workers helping vulnerable Manitobans, it’s not just a job.
It’s personal. It’s connection. And it makes all the difference in people’s lives.
There’s still work to be done for those who provide care to vulnerable Manitobans. We need to see:
- Increased funding for all care to ensure decent wages for workers
- Development of minimum training standards and a higher minimum wage mandated for all support workers; and
- A professional designation for people working in this field.
A collaborative campaign of MGEU, UFCW Local 832, and CUPE Manitoba to raise awareness about the importance of the workers in our communities who help vulnerable Manitobans.
