Get the facts?

So this is rather amusing.

The hive cluster was in high dungeon yesterday.  Many commented on how they seemed unusually angry as they shouted.

Especially when they targeted one individual that they think is writing this blog (well, being a tiny fraction correct is better than 100% wrong, I suppose), to the point that Deb Arcand and her sidekick were ranting and raving in the street - after the picketers had packed up and where in the process of leaving - at this person's unit for some time, about...

Shepherd's Care.

It seems they lost their collective marbles over this post, enough to spend some minutes yelling blather and nonsense repeatedly, at doors and windows.

For some time, Artspace members have expressed concern about the mental state of the picketers.  This has increased that concern.  There is something seriously wrong with some of these picketers.

That, however, is not what this post is about.

Instead, it's about this website that has been brought to our attention, directly because of the above incident.

This is AUPE's answer to what Shepherd's Care is doing.   They have started a "get the facts" website.

Except it doesn't really say anything.

It's two pages.  The home page and an "action" page.

Their "facts" consist of twelve sentences, plus a sub-title, most of which are oblique insinuations against Shepherd's Care.

This is the meatiest paragraph.

SHEPHERD’S CARE IS TRYING TO CUT COSTS
The foundation is contracting food, cleaning and other support services to Aramark, a large for-profit company that provides services in jails and other institutional settings. Aramark will collect a percentage of the cost of providing services and introduce a new layer of management.

Let's take a look at this for a moment.

Shepherd's care is trying to cut costs.

And... that's a bad thing?

The foundation is contracting food, cleaning and other support services to Aramark, a large for-profit company that provides services in jails and other institutional settings.

Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!

They provide services in JAILS, people!! ZOMG!!  The horror!  Run for the hills!!!

Why even bring up jails at all?  What sort of association are they trying to create?  Are they suggesting that, because they provide services to jails, that means they provide poor services?  That people in jail don't deserve support services?  What?

Then there's that vague "other institutional settings."  Now why would they do that?

By the way, this is the link to Aramark Canada.  Here is their About page.

Aramark delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people’s lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. We provide award-winning services to healthcare institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses in 22 countries around the world.

As a leader in a large, growing market, Aramark proudly serves its blue chip client base through high quality service and innovation to meet their evolving needs. With safety, quality and service excellence as core values that define the company, Aramark is also committed to responsibly addressing issues that matter to our clients, customers, employees, shareholders and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement.

In 2013, FORTUNE magazine again recognized Aramark on its list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” Since 1998, Aramark has been consistently ranked as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. Additionally, and also in 2013, Aramark was honored as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute.

Oh, and you know what's interesting?

When you do a search on Aramark with Google, the very first link at the top of the list - the top paid ad - is AUPE's get-the-facts page.

They have paid enough for the ad to actually top Aramark's own job's ad, in the number 2 slot.  I mean, sure, it would make sense to be the top paid ad when searching for Shepherd's Care, but Aramark, too?

Ah, those union dues at work!

So what else is on the "get the facts" page...

Aramark will collect a percentage of the cost of providing services and introduce a new layer of management.

Well, duh.  How else are they supposed to get paid?  And how are they supposed to do their job without management?  That's how using contracting companies works.

They make a big deal about Aramark being a "large for-profit" company.  Funny.  Isn't Revera a large for-profit company?  Or is being a "for profit" company only bad if AUPE isn't involved with it?

This kind of contracting out puts downward pressure on wages. 

Or maybe it puts wages more in line with what they really are like, rather than what AUPE is trying to force them to be - completely unaffordable to charities like Shepherd's Care, or tiny, in-house, volunteer run companies like SAIL?

How can quality care be provided by workers who only stay until they can find a better job?

You mean like any other job that has ambitious people who seek to improve their careers?  I hate to break it to them, but that's normal.  The world of people staying with the same company - or even the same field - for their entire employed life ended decades ago.

Now we move on to the take action page, which has this.

If Shepherd’s Care management goes ahead with this decision, 157 Shepherd’s Care staff, some with up to thirty years of service, will be laid off, destroying the relationships they have built with residents and their families. 

Oh, there they are, playing the "relationship card.  They tried that here, too.  

Guess, what?  They are staff.  Not family.  A good relationship with staff is wonderful, but if everyone made business decisions based on whether or not someone makes them feel guilty enough, they wouldn't be around for long.

The quality of care will suffer for residents when these committed workers are replaced by low-wage workers who will only stay until they can find better jobs.

And here we get to the crux of the issue, don't we?  To them, these are "low wage workers."  Of course, we have no "facts" to tell us just what those wages are.  But what it does tell us is that they know it's the wages that have forced Shepherd's Care to take this action.

In other words, AUPE priced the employees out of their own jobs.

Congratulations, AUPE.  You've just cost 157 of your members their jobs.

Shepherd’s Care is a faith-based organization created by three founding Pentecostal churches, but this move is a clear violation of the foundation’s own values.

Oh, oh!!  Look!!  They're playing the religion card now, too!

Tell us, just what values, exactly, are being violated here?  Oh, right.  We have no idea - because this get-the-facts site has NO facts at all, just accusations and insinuations.

Now, if you go to their "take action" page, you'll see a form on the right.

They conveniently have their own letter already there for you.  No thinking required! (This is also where you finally read some of the "values" Shepherd's Care is supposedly violating.)

There is also a long list of people who will get copies if you send it.

CC: Shepherd’s Care Foundation board of directors · Millwoods Assembly · Southside Pentecostal Assembly · Bethel Pentecostal Assembly · David Eggen, MLA for Edmonton Calder (constituency for Shepherd’s Care Kensington and Vanguard) · Fred Horne, MLA for Edmonton Rutherford (constituency for Shepherd’s Care Southside Manor and Greenfield) · Sohail Quadri, MLA for Edmonton Millwoods (constituency for Shepherd’s Care Millwoods) · Stephen Mandel, Minister of Health · Vickie Kaminski, CEO Alberta Health Services · Brian Mason, Leader - New Democratic Party · Raj Sherman, Leader - Liberal Party · Danielle Smith, Leader - Wildrose Official Opposition

Of course, there is no reason you can't remove their form letter and write your own.

So this is what I am inviting you do to.

Go to the "take action page."

Fill in your info at the top.

Remove the form letter and write your own.

Write whatever you want.  Write in support of Shepherd's Care, or in support of AUPE's position.

It's up to you.

You're allowed to think for yourself.

You're allowed to speak for yourself.

Take advantage of it, then hit submit.

You're message - your personal message - will go to Shepherd's Care, and everyone on that cc list.