Monday 30 June 2014

A Typical Day at Artspace with AUPE

Since the strike started on May 7, 2014, this has been a fairly typical day Artspace members have had to live through.

Picketers begin to arrive generally between 5:30 and 6am.  Most of them are paid picketers, not striking care staff.

A table would be set up for their food and drink and whatnot on the sidewalk.  Usually, it is set up on the sidewalk, alongside one of the raised beds.  Sometimes, they set up across the street, in front of the townhouses, so they can sit in the shade.  Chairs often are set up and angled so picketers can sit and watch people in their homes.

Often, a tripod with a video camera is set up in the pee patch, positioned to record all the front of the high rise, plus the driveways.

For the first while, the noise would begin right away, with chanting, shouting and the use of a megaphone.  After several weeks and many complaints, the picketers did finally agree not start getting loud until after 7am.

The picketers typically walk the area in front of the highrise and the entrances to the above and below-ground parking.  They are supposed to only be on the sidewalk, with a 4 ft easement.  They often go beyond the easement.  No Trespassing signs had to be put up in the raised garden beds to keep them from sitting and leaning on them.  They are often ignored. 

Individuals living in the highrise are forced to go through the picketers to go about their daily business.  They are often yelled at, laughed at, mocked, insulted etc.  Certain members are specifically targeted for extra verbal abuse and intimidation.

Note that the SAIL office is at the far end of the highrise, where it has its own entrance.  They do not picket there, though sometimes they wander around the perimeter of the highrise, follow members off site, and go into the street. 

During shift change for care staff, a security vehicle with tinted windows drives the replacement workers to and from a gathering point.  Security escorts replacement workers from the rear of the highrise.  There is only one entrance/exit to the outdoor parking lot.  The driveways for the outdoor parking and the entrance and exit doors of the underground parking are all next to each other.

Picketers mob the security vehicle, shouting at the replacement workers. It is not unusual for the replacement vehicle to be blocked for an hour or more.  Sometimes for 2 hours.

When the vehicle is returning and is blocked from entering the parking lot, it blocks the entire street.  Along with regular traffic, this prevents DATS from getting through.  Eventually, an agreement was reached and the security vehicle is allowed to enter the driveway and the picketers are allowed to go beyond the 4 ft easement.  

Picketers block other vehicles from coming and going.  Over time, they begin to pick and choose who they will let by and who they target for retaliatory blocking and verbal abuse.

Picketers continue to yell up at balconies, peer into windows, take photos and video of people in their private spaces, trying to go about their lives.  Megaphones, fake police sirens and an air raid siren are sometimes used.

A number of individual members are targeted by name for extra verbal harassment.

Yelling and harassment continues until about 10am.

Most of the time, all the picketers leave for 3-4 hour lunch break.  Sometimes, a few of them remain and continue to harass members, guests, and people attempting to do deliveries. Or, they just sit and watch everyone.

Picketers typically return around 1 or 2pm

Disruptive behaviour continues until about 6pm.  Some evenings, they stay later. 

Picketing usually takes place 7 days a week, with fewer picketers on the weekends. Some weekends, they don't bother to show up.

Replacement care workers have returned to their vehicles to find photos of themselves and notes left on them by AUPE picketers, saying things like "we know where you live." 

Picketers have followed members off-site, as members do things like walk their dogs or go to work.

Artspace members have found themselves stalked online, particularly on facebook.



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