GIFTS AND GRIPES

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Dear Editor,
Re: Motor Vehicles
Yesterday I went to renew my driver's licence. The clerk did all the paperwork, took my $84.45 (outrageous amount), and then had me sit to take my picture.  She instructed me to remove my glasses. When I refused, the clerk said it was a new policy and called the Edmonton Motor Vehicle Branch to confirm.
I have worn prescription glasses for 50 years and when I refused to remove my glasses, the clerk gave me my old licence back and would not process my renewal, saying it would be rejected if sent in for the new licence with me wearing my glasses.
The following morning I phoned the Motor Vehicle's Branch, Edmonton, and asked for someone who knew the new rule/policy for not wearing glasses to have your driver's licence picture taken. It was looked up in the Policy Manual and I was informed that the new rule was made up when the software was designed to help cause less theft or fraudulent changes to these documents. It has something to do with a laser effect on the card but wearing glasses does not allow the software to work properly.
If the people who designed the software are so smart, why could they not design it so it is effective when people wear prescription lens instead of making thousands of people angry and taking a picture that is not a true likeness of each driver.

Pat Curtis
Millet





Dear Editor,

One-Time Bonuses are NOT a Solution to help agencies “with recruitment and retention.” The Alberta Government announced $1500 lump-sum payments to workers in 550 agencies. Anyone that works in the disability services field can tell you that the major issue in the sector is low staff wages. We have wages so low that it is increasingly difficult to attract and retain frontline staff. Low wages are also the primary reason student enrolments in disability services programs have plummeted. Who will take a 2 year full time program to start a job at $13 per hour? Low wages are having such a negative impact that client care is affected due to staff shortages in the non governmental agencies. Government has recognized the value of a disability worker through the wages and benefits they provide their own staff. It is essential that the wage gap between government and non government workers (approximately 40% and rising) be closed! While we appreciate the one-time money it does nothing to address the recruitment and retention of staff; in other words something is better than nothing, but something still must be done to address the real issues. A knee jerk reaction (one-time bonuses) to agency distress is not the answer to this essential problem. The government has to be more responsive and it is unacceptable that: The Persons with Development Disabilities (PDD) found the money in their system to cover the unfunded portion of their pensions. But no money for contract staff wages. PDD found the money for 3% for their own staff for the last 3 years, plus $1,700 this month for their staff as a onetime bonus and 4% for their staff for 2012. They can find the money for these things but not for ongoing wages for contract agency employees. There are several “projects” like SIS and the outcomes initiative that seem to find funding. Soon there will be no staff to deliver their programs to people in communities. Government has a duty of care for the most vulnerable in our society and to meet that responsibility it needs a stable, educated and trained, capable, long-term workforce of sufficient numbers to fulfill client service needs. This is not the case at present and the entire system is in jeopardy. The first step to resolving this crisis is to close the wage gap. Contracting practices need to include wage grids that are funded in a fair, equitable and consistent manner across the province. Wages paid to contract staff have to be competitive in the economy, especially as Alberta's economy heats up over the next several years. There has to be the financial incentive for young people to pursue a desirable career in the disability services field. Failure to act will result in a failing sector with negative consequences for those vulnerable people the sector is supposed to serve. No one wants a failing outcome.

Colin Reichle,
Executive Director,
Alberta Disability Workers Association

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