‘Our workers are burned out’: AUPE pickets in Medicine Hat for government support for disability workers

Curtis Jackson, AUPE vice president assigned to the south region, said to the crowd they are tired of doing more with less.

“Our workers are burned out,” Jackson said.

“They are leaving the profession. We need more on the ground and we need services to Albertans.

Jackson says the information pickets are a direct response to the provincial funding cuts going on in disability services in this province.

A waiting list he claims is over 12,000 families with children who have vulnerable disabilities that need support.

“Even though we have a [provincial government] budget surplus, we’re seeing cuts to advocacy groups as well as cuts to temporary contracted workers,” Jackson said.

“As a result, we’re having workers that are permanent have their caseloads go sky high and they can’t make a dent in this wait list,” he added.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got Albertans waiting and waiting and waiting. In some cases, we’ve heard stories of up to five years to have their needs assessed and get disability supports in this province.”

Information pickets have already taken place in Edmonton and Red Deer, with Medicine Hat being the third stop.

Shamanthi Cooray, chairperson for the social work sector of AUPE, made the trip from Edmonton, and said they take social justice very seriously.

“When our workers and our families and children are impacted, then, of course, we will go out and support all the smaller communities,” Cooray said.

“We make sure that all of our chapters has the resources that is necessary to fight the cuts.”

Jackson says their union is asking the minister of seniors, community and social services, MLA Jason Nixon to reconsider the cuts.

“It’s not too late to do the right thing and extend these temporary contracts,” Jackson said.

“Perhaps even look at getting more workers in those offices to deal with this wait list and get Albertans the services they desperately need.”

Jackson said their next information picket will be in Lethbridge on Tuesday.

He says AUPE will be hosting engagement sessions with Albertans who are directly impacted by this as well.

In a statement, a spokesperson for minister Nixon said there have been no funding cuts made to any direct services for Albertans with disabilities.

They added that in Budget 2024, funding for the persons with developmental disabilities program was increased by $45 million and funding for the family support for children with disabilities program was maintained to make sure those currently receiving services can continue to access the critical supports they need.

“The government recognizes that the demand for the FSCD and PDD programs remains high and the department is working hard to connect families to services as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for minster Nixon said.

“There has been no reduction in department employees for this program. It’s important to note that the PDD and FSCD programs were designed in a much different time. Alberta’s growing population, coupled with an increase in the prevalence of disability, has put increased pressure on these programs to keep pace,” the statement added.

“This is why the department is working to modernize these programs to ensure it continues to work for Albertans now and in the future.”

by Jesse Gill

‘Our workers are burned out’: AUPE pickets in Medicine Hat for government support for disability workers

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