Yellowknife (Mar 03/06) - The YWCA wants to pay its workers higher wages to compete with government workers, but they aren't getting enough money from the government to do it.

Colleen Moore works as a family violence counsellor at the Alison McAteer House, serving women and children who need help. Moore is an employee of YWCA and is frustrated with funding provided to the organization, because she may need to find other work that pays more. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

The YWCA receives funding for being a non-government organization, but in the last three years the amount has not raised.

"We can't keep competitive wages with other employers," said Aimee Clark, director of finance for YWCA Yellowknife.

Clark said the YWCA employs 128 staff members in programs ranging from community support to after-school programs for youth.

Minister for Health and Social Services Michael Miltenberger said any increases in the funding are being reviewed.

"It is an issue that we are committed to looking at," said Miltenberger.

Miltenberger said the YWCA provides services that are important to the North, like family counselling.

A position with the government as a community wellness worker pays a wage of $48,000 annually. A community wellness worker ensures that family counselling needs are met and works with addictions counsellors as well.

The YWCA equivalent of that position is a community support worker, which performs the same duties, but the YWCA employee would only have a salary of $38,000.

Quitting a job you love should only be a last resort, but some workers have been dealing with the possibility.

"I think it's frustrating," said Colleen Moore, an employee at Alison McAteer House - a shelter for women and children who are looking to avoid violence in their lives.

Moore works with families and helps them deal with the RCMP, legal aid and their housing needs.

"I love my job, but if I can get paid more for a desk job elsewhere, it gets tempting to leave," said Moore.

She said the worst part of the whole situation is that workers like her are needed in the North.

"I think this is a call out to the government to step up and show that workers like us are important," said Moore.

Diane Jamieson, director of community support services, said the issue has not forced the YWCA to lay anyone off from employment.

"People have not been laid off, they just leave," said Jamieson.

The wage issue has forced the YWCA to take programs away, but the workers were re-located in the organization, said Jamieson.

"The issue is shrinking the pool of workers that we draw from," said Jamieson.

Programs like Alison McAteer House and Sutherland House in Fort Smith have been havens for families looking to avoid abuse and violence.

Jamieson said there is an opportunity for growth and there have been requests by other communities to start up similar programs.

Clark said YWCA employees receive pay raises every two years, which is twice as long as government workers wait.