Autumn at Artspace

At my home, Artspace, there is a great view of autumn in the river valley in all its glory. Standing on my balcony, I try to enjoy the view that I have appreciated for 24 years. The thought of the AUPE strike/lockout is never far from my mind. Today, the strikers left about 4:00 p.m. and our windy corridor is not too windy this early evening. Neighbours are starting to wonder about the weather for the next week or two. We watch the old beautiful trees on our street cycle for another autumn. When the sound of traffic is not so bad, we can even hear a variety of birds that we share this downtown space with. The conversation with neighbours changes from summer activities to autumn clean up.

And then to the topic that permeates our existence. AUPE activity, again.

Yup.

It is such are a part of our life right now every day - 24 hours a day.

I hear union members yelling in the morning. 

I see them in the afternoon. 

And their vehicle is parked in front of our property 24 hours a day.

We’ve said it before - even when they are not here, they ARE here.

We are aware of the upcoming union event and it is concerning for our Artspace community. We have suffered and struggled with the AUPE activities at our home far too often. We experienced what they did on Canada Day and a similar event marking 100 days of the strike/labour dispute at our home. They have paraded Federal NDPers and AUPE members down our street, like an invading force, to take pictures in front of our Artspace canopy. Another photo-op that just doesn’t make sense.

I think they forgot to tell the guests that they were bringing them to my home.

A home for 87 families. 

Our home.

Was it made clear that we are not a facility? 

That everyone living in Artspace Housing Co-op is living independently? 

This is our home.

I believe that during conversations people forget to tell others that the issue is with SAIL; Artspace is the name of the building where members live. SAIL is the employer of the home care staff that are currently involved in the labour dispute.

I wish I could have told those people - all happy smiles for the camera standing in front of my home for yet another photo-op in front of the Artspace canopy, that inside, I wasn’t smiling. I was crying. And shaking. And terrified. I was stressed. I was angry. I feel violated by strangers who are at my home uninvited. Everybody outside clearly ignoring, dismissing, disregarding that there are people inside the building right behind you....Literally, right behind you.... You turn your back to us and smile for the camera.

Oct. 15, 2014 is when AUPE members will be coming to Edmonton for their convention and registration begins. It is their 38th Annual Convention and it will be at the Shaw Conference Centre. Many AUPE members from across Alberta will be staying at downtown hotels in Edmonton, primarily at Chateau Lacombe Hotel, Courtyard Marriott Hotel, The Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel, and the Sutton Place Hotel.

As registration in on the 15th we can expect many AUPE members in our downtown Edmonton area as early as that day.

Our small, in-house home care program - SAIL (Supports for Artspace Independent Living) is one component that will be discussed at the AUPE convention.

We ask that AUPE delegates keep those conversations at the convention site. AUPE’s President and VPs will speak passionately about belonging to a union. Good. However, flip to one of the major topics at the convention: code of conduct.

Seriously, if you are union member or not, consider what behaviours you hold in esteem for a union. And, seriously, reflect on what behaviours damage a union’s reputation. And, seriously, choose not to pursue or support the later.

We do not wish for another parade of AUPE members and their supporters on our street. This causes damage. Just union activities being here causes damage. It causes anxiety/distress/panic for members who are in their own home - - our home. Home. Home for us includes children, teens, young adults, couples, seniors, EVERYONE.

If you choose to come to Artspace, your presence on or near our property will not move the labour dispute forward. So far, the intentional noise and activity on our street has not been effective employer leverage in this situation. It will actually harm or make this tenuous situation worse. 

So don’t do it. 

Be professional and respectable and attend to your issues at your convention location.

So, just to be crystal clear - AUPE delegates and supporters are not invited to our street or our property.  We would see it as another unprofessional and inappropriate tactic that is unnecessary at this point in the labour dispute.