Rita Bessant, Executive Director of CORE Association (CHAT News photo by Brendan Miller)

By Brendan Miller

Disability workers will see pay increase following provincial funding announcement

Mar 6, 2023 | 4:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – More than 20,000 service providers in the social sector will be receiving a pay increase following a funding announcement from the province.

$330 million will be provided to social workers to increase wages and administrative funding over the next three years.

The wage increase will apply to staff working in Alberta homeless shelters, family violence and prevention workers and disability workers.

In Medicine Hat roughly 600 front-line staff working with people with disabilities should anticipate to see a ten percent increase to their paychecks according to Rita Bessant, Executive Director with CORE Association.

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“I am thrilled, thrilled to see that it’s been confirmed today.” says Bessant.

Bessant says the social sector has been asking the government to increase staff wages for over 15 years.

“The work is incredibly rewarding and that is why we have kept really good people but it’s sort of a form of blackmail,” says Bessant.

“You get hooked on the work but you don’t get the cost of living increase. That’s why this has made my day, it’s made my year to be able to see people getting what they’re valued,” adds Bessant.

Funding includes $25 million that will help with additional administrative costs over the next three years.