May 04, 2020
Moncton, May 4, 2020 – Shelters for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence were designated essential services during the implementation of emergency measures in New Brunswick in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased health and safety risks combined with low wages have resulted in a number of workers being fearful to attend work with some even leaving their jobs. This puts an already fragile sector at risk. The sector is therefore asking the government to quickly increase their subsidies so they can be able to pay their workers at fair value – being $24.00 an hour. The Réseau Victimes Violence Nouveau-Brunswick and New Brunswick South Central Transition House and Second Stage Coalition recently sent a letter to Premier Blaine Higgs to request that shelters be fully funded by the government at a rate permitting to increases wages to what they should be.
“A 2012 study by Ruth Rose on behalf of the NB Coalition for Pay Equity had indicated that the salaries of our workers must be above the $21/hour mark. Adding for inflation, in 2020 this figure is now $24/hour. However, the base salary for our sector is $13.41 and our highest paid workers earn about $18/hour and often without any benefits. It should come as no surprise that some of our employees have decided to stay at home. The health and safety risk is too great for so little recognition for our work,” said Angèle Losier, chairperson for the Réseau Victimes Violence Nouveau-Brunswick.
The pandemic highlights the challenges of retaining employees in the sector. The tasks and responsibilities of shelter workers are heavy. Welcoming women and children during a time of pandemic means shelters are supporting victims fleeing from an abusive partner who are suffering compounded stresses and barriers and who are in a heightened state psychological distress and anxiety.
Too little for now and for the future
Although the federal government has announced a one-time emergency funds to help the sector, New Brunswick shelters know these amounts are not adequate to reflect the ongoing needs."We have to adapt our services and our shelter’s physical spaces to meet the public health directives, especially regarding social distance. This has been difficult because, for instance, most shelters do not have one bathroom per resident. Personal protective equipment and disinfectants have been very difficult to obtain. Adding to these extra expenses, all our fundraising events are canceled indefinitely. We are in a serious financial crisis, one that will continue well past the pandemic,” said Patty Michaud, chairperson of the New Brunswick South Central Transition House and Second Stage Coalition and Executive Director of the Miramichi Emergency Center for Women. “It is time that the crucial work we provide to our communities is recognized in a manner that reflect the skills and complexity of the work. Since our work is essential, it must be compensated fairly. We are awaiting news from Premier Higgs,”
Réseau Victimes Violence Nouveau-Brunswick is a provincial organization representing bilingual and Francophone shelters, second-stage and sexual violence prevention centers in the province.
New Brunswick South Central Transition House and Second Stage Coalition is a network of 12 second-stage shelters in the southern and central regions of New Brunswick serving English-speaking and bilingual communities.
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For info:
Debrah Westerburg
Coordinator
NB South Central Transition House and Second Stage Coalition
Tel: (506) 328-9605
Catherine Roy Comeau
Coordonnatrice
Réseau Victimes Violence NB
Tel: (506) 543-5900
