Celebrate Community Social Service Workers

"So, today, we salute those who have chosen to make helping others their life's work, not only for their dedication and commitment, but for the way they walk into difficult situations trying to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Thank you for everything you do." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

Ottawa (06 Nov. 2021) — Throughout this pandemic, many public services were put to the test. Health care is the sector that most people think about. But there's another sector that also bore the brunt of the crisis: community social services.

Community Service Workers' Day salutes an often-ignored sector

Community services is a sector that is repeatedly underfunded by governments. Many of the services are invisible to the world, unless you rely on one of them. Counselling, income support, homeless shelters, child protection, and providing resources for people with disabilities are just some of the services that always have had to do more with less. With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing our lives into chaos, it put a much heavier burden on the services and on the people who provide them.

Every year, on November 6, Community Services Worker Day, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) honours the workers who put their hearts into everything they do. To make up for funding shortfalls, they hold bake sales to ensure their clients have what they need. They work all hours, and even longer, to make sure the people they care for are treated with dignity and respect. They challenge the powerful and the systems entrenched in society that prevent people from living their lives to the fullest. They give hope to some of the most vulnerable people in society by showing up for them every day. This year, we have even more reason to thank and recognize the incredible work they do.

Dedication and commitment should result in decent work, decent pay

Not only do community social service workers confront daily challenges in helping their clients, they happen to be the lowest paid sector of our broad health care community. Because of this wage disparity, many CSWs themselves are, in fact, facing similar struggles as their clients.

"Community service workers live and work under tremendous pressure every day," said Larry Brown, NUPGE President. "But starting in 2020 they have faced extremely challenging circumstances. They have come to be seen as heroes. And they deserve this recognition and our thanks, but they also deserve decent work. That means investment in quality public and social services, which will benefit us all."

"And while community service workers are now getting some of the recognition and respect they should have been receiving all along, there is a long way to go. What is really needed, what will really change lives is adequate, stable, and targeted funding for these services and for the workers who provide them, " said Brown.