Welcome

Things have been quiet on this blog - as they should be! - for a long time, but with the election coming, we've seen quite a surge of visits.  To our new visitors, welcome, and we hope you find our experiences enlightening and useful.  For those returning, welcome back.

For those visiting the posts about the NDP, there's just a bit we should clarify.

During the siege on our home, people wrote to all levels of government and all parties.

None of them stepped up to the plate.  Not a single party was willing to stand up for us.

However, of all the parties, only the NDP, both federal and provincial, actually had elected members show up at our home, not to protect our community from harassment, but to join in and support it.

Someone pointed out to us that AUPE gives the NDP party 25 cents a month, per member.  That translates to about 21, 250 a month.

Wow.

AUPE, NDP, and The Co operative Model

Since AUPE launched it's attack on ARTSPACE, where SAIL is the main focus of their fight, they seemed to have taken over the Whole ARTSPACE Co operative.  Often heard from the Picketers is "This is our place now!" And while no one has been opposed to them picketing the SAIL office (a proposal AUPE rejected), they attack instead the whole Co-operative and it's members.  There are more Co-op members than SAIL users and Staff combined!

A bit of Background on Co operatives :
There are many kinds of co-operatives: food co-ops, co-op daycares, credit unions, retail co-ops, worker co-ops and housing co-ops. Any group of people can form a co-operative. The members own the co-operative and the co-operative provides a service they need. Housing co-operatives provide housing.

Since the 1930s, Canadians have been building and living in housing co-ops. The people who live in the housing are the co-op’s members. They elect, from among themselves, a board of directors to manage the business of the co-op.

Each member-unit has one vote. Members work together to keep their housing well-managed and affordable.

Over the years, federal and provincial governments have funded various programs to help Canadians create non-profit housing co-ops. The co-ops developed under these programs provide good quality, affordable housing.

As a co-op member, you have security of tenure. This means that you can live in your home for as long as you wish if you follow the rules of the co-op and pay your housing charge (similar to rent).

As a co-op member, you have a say in decisions that affect your home.

You and your neighbors own your homes co-operatively.  Members form a community that works together to manage the co-op.

Co-op communities are made up of all kinds of people - people with different backgrounds and incomes and special needs. These diverse and vibrant communities are the unique strength of the co-op housing movement.

So is it not hypocritical that AUPE flaunts members of the NDP Party to show support for them? The late Jack Layton and his wife Olivia Chow lived in a Co-op.  Our NDP MLA for Norwood-Highlands, Brian Mason and his family, lived in a Co-op (Sundance).   Niki Ashton, who  is the New Democratic Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, ran in the last NDP leadership campaign.  A resident of Thompson, Manitoba, she is the daughter of Manitoba provincial NDP cabinet minister Steve Ashton. She has been an instructor at the University College of the North, was a firm believer in Co-op Housing.

So it seems prominent NDP members value the Co-op idea show up, not at the SAIL office, but for photo ops in front of the Co-op entrance, using bullhorns at times, supporting the ones from AUPE who are terrorizing and have loudly said, on more then one occasion "This is our place now!"

Irony?

The NDP Connection: Dan Harris

As posted previously, AUPE has been hosting some photo opps, featuring federal NDPers, at our home.

Then a couple of days after Brian Masse came out to show his support for AUPE's abuse of the disabled and the disadvantaged, along with the entire Artspace community, they brought out Dan Harris of Scarborough Southwest.

Yup, another one from Ontario.

Hey, Dan!  Did AUPE tell you that the reason there's a lock out was because the SAIL staff walked off the job, behaved so abhorrently on the picket line that the people they used to help care for no longer felt they would be safe having these "care" workers in their private homes anymore, then the staff suddenly decided they would "suspend" their strike on short notice, were told unequivocally by the user members that they did not want them in their homes while SAIL asked for more time to adjust schedules to accommodate their return, which AUPE refused, forcing SAIL to apply for a lock out to protect user members?

How's that for an atrocious run-on sentence.

We kind of wish the lock out never had to happen.  We also kind of wish SAIL staff never went on strike and instead finished the contract negotiations that were in progress until AUPE got involved.  Then maybe our entire community would not be held hostage right now, while AUPE continues to demand we force the SAIL board to sacrifice itself, and our user members to give up their autonomy, as ransom.

Oh, and Dan?

Did AUPE bother to tell you that you were doing a photo opp in front of our private homes?  Not the employer's place of business?

Probably not.

I'm *really* sure Dan and Brian never got to see this side of the picketers.




Unlike Brian Masse, however, an Artspace member did manage to get to Dan and give him the SAIL time line and his own business card.  Dan promised to take a look at it.

I doubt he intends to keep that promise, but you never know.

If anyone feels like enlightening Dan as to what's really happening here at Artspace, they can email him at dan.harris@parl.gc.ca

The NDP Connection: Brian Masse

So things have been weird here at Artspace, going from little or no activity, to sudden crowds, and back to next to nothing.

Turns out that, on the days when things crowds start showing up, it's for photo opps.  A big, noisy show for AUPE executives, or...

NDP politicians.

Our local politicians have refused to get involved.  Our MLA, Brian Mason, sure as heck won't do anything for his constituents if it means crossing AUPE.  Our MP told us that he can't get involved because this is a provincial matter and he's federal.

Well, someone ought to tell the federal NDP this, because guess who's been showing up here?

The first to show up was Brian Masse of Windsor West.

Yeah, from Ontario.

Really, Brian?  Their cause is just?

And just what cause is that?  To lay siege to an entire community in an attempt to harass, intimidate and extort them into forcing the in-house care company to capitulate the AUPE's demands that are so unreasonable, they would result in bankruptcy and the loss of everything the model of care for the disabled and disadvantaged it was designed to provide?

Money vs independent living?

Entitlements vs autonomy?

Union privileges vs human rights?

Yeah, that's real just, isn't it.

Oh, and Brian... just so you know.

Artspace Housing Co-operative is people's private homes.

You were never at SAIL, the place of business.

I suspect AUPE neglected to tell you that - and a whole lot of other things.

Mind you, I've noticed that, on the twitter page that's supposedly by the SAIL staff, they don't even pretend otherwise.  The hashtags they use are AUPE and Artspace, making it clear that they are targeting our homes, not SAIL, the employer.

Funny to see them dig out the 100 days signs.  They're off by 25 days when this photo was taken.

The "equal pay for equal work" signs are pretty dishonest, too.  As saysandra so conveniently and inadvertently pointed out, SAIL staff were getting a better deal than the collective agreement Abby Road has with CUPE.

The picketing SAIL staff are the equivalent of the "support service worker" position at Abby Road.  SAIL staff maxed out at $19.50, based on seniority (you know, that thing saysandra claimed they didn't have, just like gloves).

The "impartial" mediator's recommendation was for SAIL to pay the care workers more than Abby Road's LPNs are getting.

So what they're actually demanding is for the care staff to have the same pay as a position they do not qualify for, and that does completely different work than they do.

Far from "equal work."

Something else I'm sure Brian Masse was never told.

He certainly never talked to any of the Artspace members affected by what AUPE is doing to our community.

But hey, if you feel like telling him, you can just send him an email.  Here's his address.

brian.masse@parl.gc.ca

Maybe we can also ask him why a federal politician is meddling in provincial matters, too.

Familiar Faces: David Eggen and the NDP connection (Updated)

After spotting a Facebook post that had us searching to figure out who it was that made laying siege to Artspace her life, a number of other interesting things were found.

Some time ago, we wrote about AUPE's invasion of our home, including the actions of NDP leadership hopeful, David Eggen.

What made this most painful, is that there are people living here in Artspace that thought he was their friend.  This betrayal was a tremendous shock to many, and one in particular is still under doctor's orders not to have any direct communication with Eggen for health reasons.

You would think that someone in his position would recognize the damage such an event would have on the vulnerable people living in Artspace, and especially those living with brain injuries and PTSD.

It wasn't the first time David Eggen came to Artspace in support of AUPE, rather than the people who were being harmed by their actions.

Like here, where he is posing with Local 47 chair, Deb Arcand, and another provocateur, Jaime Urbina, for  David Malka. All three are noted as among the most abusive of all the picketers that have laid siege to our home.














In trying to figure out who this Deb Arcand posting on the AUPE Facebook page was, another face kept popping up.

David Eggen's.

In the same article we found a photo identifying Deb Arcand at St. Thomas, we also found this photos of David Eggen.

St. Thomas is listed as an Edmonton senior's residence.

There's David Eggen, on the bull horn, with a "boisterous" (nice PC term for it) crowd in front of the homes of seniors.

From what I've seen of the event, it's been every bit as disruptive as what would start happening at Artspace, just over a month after this photo was published.

This is clearly not the first time David Eggen has shown his support for AUPE's actions against the more vulnerable people of our communities.

This is a screen cap from an AUPE video at Shepherd's Care, which has made the news recently.


This photo has another familiar face in the background; someone who has also spent months here at Artspace and is another AUPE paid picketer (not SAIL staff) that has been among the more abusive.

She can bee seen in this video.



AUPE's videos have shown all sorts of interesting things, but we'll stick to David Eggen for now.

Here he is at Michener, along with Raj Sherman.

AUPE tries to take credit for Michener not closing down, in a way that was quite offensive to those who support independent living for people with disabilities.

I think I see some familiar faces in the background here, too.

This one goes back to another event both Arcand and Eggen were at: Revera.

It's another screen cap from AUPE's video, but what is most disturbing about this one is that David Eggen is identified as the Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.

Friends of Medicare knows what's been going on here at Artspace, as well as the damage being done to the people who live here.  After all, one of our members is - was - a member of the board of directors.  He has resigned as Deb Arcand and Dave Malka constantly called him out for his association with the board, even following him off property, constantly yelling the word "SHAME" even though he sits on no Artspace or SAIL Board, nor receives services and was a volunteer for many organizations including Friends of Medicare. Even when Deb Arcand was asked to resist attacking this man as he is suffering from PTSD, her response was "Ya Right" and the verbal abuse elevated to the point of him  twice being hospitalized

Considering how long this has been going on, and at how many places, as well as AUPE's connections to the board, perhaps it comes as no surprise that Friends of Medicare has been ineffectual.

Ah, but David Eggen's connections to what's been going on here at Artspace go further than his showing up at AUPE's targeting of other vulnerable communities.

Not only did he post for pictures for the former picket captain, David Malka, look who's endorsing him for his run for leadership.

This is the current picket captain organizer, though she has been part of actions against Artspace members since the beginning.  She apparently doesn't approve of the loud aggressive tactics, yet... well...

Desiree stood next to this woman as she threatened someone on her balcony and not only did she not do anything to stop her, but she also zoned in on the woman on the balcony, then tried to deflect blame onto the woman's boss.

This person.

Desiree is also the person who took credit for organising the Canada Day invasion of our home and left a comment on the Friends of SAIL (which AUPE people were using to continue their harassment of Artspace members, leaving people feeling unsafe to post there anymore, even after their harassers are blocked) that made it sound like we here in Artspace should somehow be grateful for having them hold an illegal block party, complete with free hot dogs.

That was the event that inspired the creation of this blog, so I guess we should be thanking her for doing something that eventually lead to the public exposure of what AUPE has been doing to the Artspace community.

So who else is David Eggen connected to?

 This guy.

He's another one that we couldn't figure out for quite some time.  It's thanks to this endorsement on David Eggen's website that we finally know.

This video has some choice actions from Jaime, demonstrating just how irresponsible and reckless he has been, on top of general harassment and, as a number of members have described, just plain creeping people out.

Oh, and he's also one of the people who blocked a woman on the street for almost an hour and a half.

Yeah, that's him behind the phone, with Deb Arcand beside him, and Angel Colvin, who told CBC some real zingers when they interviewed her.

 Ah, now here's another very familiar face.  For some reason, she's not identified as one of AUPE's vice-presidents here.

Things have quieted down a lot lately, but Karen was here just recently.  She was challenged by one of our members, who also happens to be a psychiatric nurse, and actually tried to brush off what AUPE has been doing here - under her watch - because it's not like that any more.

As someone who claims to be so knowledgeable about health care, she should know full well that the psychological damage done by abuse does not end just because the abuser suddenly starts acting nice.  Just the presence of the abuser continues to cause harm.

She's also a person who, when confronted about claims made about picketer's behaviour by a City TV camera man, first claimed they did nothing wrong, then demanded proof be shown if there was.

Well, Karen.  Just go take a look throughout this blog and our youtube channel.  There's proof enough - and you're in there, too.

So who else is connected to David Eggen?

This guy.

He is described as both a labour and an NDP organiser.

He's not as shaggy in this photo as we usually see him.

Aside from being here often, he also was one of the key people taking part in hours of street theatre against Artspace, together with AUPE's "counsel", William Rigutto.

This one is not actually a familiar face; as far as I know, she has never been on the picket line, though she did write an article for The Vue some time ago.

She's a familiar name, instead.

Turns out she knows people here in Artspace, but what caught our attention was that she was on Facebook bragging about how she knew some "inside" people, and was mediating between SAIL and AUPE.

In reality, it turned out she was pretending friendship with the SAIL president to try and get her to meet with William Rigutto, bypassing the legal, legitimate negotiation process.

Perhaps she counted on the SAIL president not being a Facebook user and catching on to what she was doing, however a number of other people saw what she was saying.

Then she completely blew it by not only betraying the people who thought she was their friend, but demonstrating herself to be contemptuous of people with disabilities.

IF AUPE wants to complain about SAIL not wanting to negotiate, they can thank Mimi for setting things back even worse than they were before.

(Update below)

Ah, but David Eggen isn't the only NDP connection to the picket line.

Check out Rod Loyola's endorsement page.

Rob Loyola has been here on the picket line.

He's the president of NASA (no, not the cool NASA; the Non-Academic Staff Association).

He's also secretary on the board for Friends of Medicare.

And who is it that's endorsing him?

Why, this favourite of AUPE.

Yeah, she lives at Artspace, but she's not the board president.  She was interim president for a while, but was elected as VP Membership.

She's also Communications Officer for a union, which AUPE neglected to mention, and which she also neglected to mention every time they trotted her out for the media to interview.

She allowed AUPE to use her in their slick propaganda video to make it sound like she was speaking for Artspace, and she has yet to recuse herself from the board for conflict of interest, which would be the ethical thing to do.

[Update: she eventually lost her position as interim president for not attending the required board meetings.]

Who else supports Rod Loyola?

That's right; The Urinator, himself.

And check out William Rigutto's comment.

He really likes the phrase "crypto fascist."

And the word "oeuvre."  That's another favourite of his.

He's really big on using ad hominem attacks on people who don't do what he demands.

I wonder if he realizes how much it makes people laugh at him for being such a dweeb?


We've heard that David Eggen has tried to backpedal over what he did here in Artspace, make excuses, and even shed a few tears of remorse.

Even if we believed it was genuine, it's too little, too late.

From the looks of things, the NDP is closely connected with AUPE in actions against senior's centres, care centres, care companies, and now Artspace.  Even our MLA, Brian Mason, has tacitly supported what's going on, rather than supporting his constituents against an aggressive, invading force.

Which means that, under the disguise of fighting for care givers, they are actually supporting the abuse and harassment of the people who need care.

And it looks like David Eggen is particularly closely involved.


Update: Sept. 10

Interesting fallout from this post.  Most of it was overwhelmingly positive, but Mimi Williams took things to Facebook where, she accused us of lying.

So I assured her I would post her side of the story.

Here it is.

This is where it all started; with her accusing us of lying.  

As for who she's talking about re: "taking bad advice from people who don't have a clue what they are talking about", we have no idea.  What advice and from whom?  

First, a bit of history.

This is part of a conversation where she talked about her behind the scenes actions to "facilitate a resolve."

This was part of a much larger conversation, which you can read below if you wish.

A number of her statements were blatantly wrong, leading people to question her, which she did not appreciate.

That lead her to talking about things that really should be confidential and were filled with half-truths and AUPE talking points.

After tagging this blog's Facebook profile, a discussion ensued, as follows.

So there you go.

There's Mimi's side of the story.

What is interesting is that she is basically admitting that she has insinuated herself into this - but that's okay, because she was "invited to conduct informal mediation."

Please explain to me how someone who wrote an article about the strike suddenly becomes part of actions to bypass the legal mediation process - or, sorry, "informal mediation" - without insinuating themselves?  Freelance writers aren't typically invited to negotiate labour disputes.

Letters: another sent to Rachel Notley

Here is another letter to Rachel Notley that has been shared with us.  This one was sent recently.  We do not know what response there has been, yet.

Dear Rachel,
I am a long-time NDP supporter, however I am hesitate to support the NDP in any form because of the support the NDP has given AUPE in their attack against people with disabilities. Specifically David Eggen and Brian Mason, who I have written.

I ask that you lobby AHS to increase funding to SAIL (Supports Artspace Independent Living) and stop the attack on our most vulnerable population. [...] 

SAIL receives money from AHS to pay for care workers to care for people with disabilities this is only one of three available housing projects in Edmonton that allow people with disabilities to avoid being institutionalized in a nursing home - where they can not decide when to go to bed or get up or when to eat or when to sleep, those decisions are made by staff. At Artspace people living with disabilities make their own decisions, just like you, and have freedom to come and go, just like you. Please STOP the attacks from AUPE and STOP your NDP members from assaulting vulnerable Albertans in their homes. I appeal to you Rachel, this needs to stop.

One of the Artspace residents has been told by his doctor that he can not return to his home with the noise level of the picketers - drumming, bull horns, yelling, honking, blocking traffic - residents are suffering, they hide indoors crying as David Eggens yells at them. We have video of David yelling.

The residents living with disabilities are fighting to keep their homes safe and while AUPE hires communications experts the residents at Artspace are typing with their noses or using modified keyboards to communicate.

This must stop. The NDP is suppose to be representing ALbertans, those vulnerable individuals who need support, those who do not have the same privilege as you! Where are you Rachel? We need your help!

We are gathering support and plan to make this part of the NDP leadership race. We will attend campaign gathering - if we can get our wheelchairs in. We will speak to the media - those of us who can speak - we will continue to type letters to the papers - those of us who have hands that can type and some of us who use our noses will type!

Please Rachel, we appeal to your sense of goodness we need the AUPE to stop yelling at us, to stop casting bull horns and blocking our cars and vans, to stop calling us names. Please help ! Please lobby AHS and demand that AUPE focuses on using their resources to assist us in maintaining dignity and independence. Please!

Letters: sent to Rachel Notley

One of the things we get asked often is whether Artspace members have written to this or that politician or person in authority.

The short answer is: we have.

Quite a lot of people, including supporters who do not live in Artspace, have written.

Here is one letter we have permission to post.  It was written on June 17 and sent to Rachel Notley.

The sender has never received a response.

To Whom It May Concern,
[personal information withheld by request]
As you may know there is a very bitter AUPE strike taking place in front of Artspace. Attached is a history of the strike.

I was at Artspace this afternoon when I witnessed and heard a most unsettling event between David M. Malka, who is a very, very vocal person on the AUPE picket line at Artspace, and an 86 year old person who lives at Artspace. The name of this person is[name] and she was the former Executive Director for Grant Notley, who was of course Rachel Notley's father.

During this encounter, David Malka was being interviewed by some people who work for Edmonton Transit. I believe it was about a matter to do with threats Mr. Malka is making about forbidding DATS buses to stop at Artspace.

[name] was outside sitting in the sun, watching the proceedings along with three other women, including me. Mr. Malka began filming us. One of [name]'s friends told Mr. Malka she did not want to be videotaped or have her photo taken. She kept insisting on this. [name] repeated to Mr. Malka that no one wanted to be filmed.

I escorted the woman who was asking not to be filmed, (as she pushed her walker) to the end of the block, while shielding her face so Mr. Malka could not film her. He takes photos and films everything at Artspace.

When I went back to Artspace Mr. Malka was calling out to [name] "[name], Grant Notley would be so ashamed of you." I escorted [name] into the apartment. She was feeling unwell, as was I, after this unsettling encounter.

I watch Mr. Malka insult residents day in and day out. I watch him and hear him screaming on his bull horn and megaphone. The police are called to Artspace on a regular basis. The President of SAIL has a huge binder of complaints against SAIL picketers from people who live at Artspace, many, many of them from people who do not even use the services of SAIL. In a post on the AUPE Facebook page communications officer Mark Wells has acknowledged that the AUPE have read hate literature to the replacement workers (see poem attached "Ode to a Scab").

Where does the NDP stand on the strike at Artspace? Will Rachel do anything to help the users of SAIL and the others who live at Artspace and the surrounding community? Will Rachel do anything to stop the harassment against [name]... a woman who speaks so highly of Rachel's father?

I am a card carrying NDP member and send the party hundreds of dollars every year. I am very disappointed that the NDP has been silent on this issue.

I do hope someone gets back to me on this matter as soon as possible. [personal information withheld]

Politicians, of course, don't want to get involved in labour disputes - unless it's to walk the picket lines and make speeches.  Has anyone ever heard of a politician come forward in support of the employer?  I sure haven't.

In our case, there is little politicians can do directly.  They can't tell either side what to do.  Where politicians can get involved is at another level.

SAIL is funded by AHS, and that funding pays for the care workers.  They may want to pay more and provide a benefits package, but there's only so much money, and no other source of income.  This is why SAIL can't meet the excessive demands from AUPE.

People have said that AUPE should be picketing AHS, not SAIL.  I don't know that that will fix anything, either.  AHS has their own limits on how much money goes where.  

Which means that, ultimately, it becomes a political issue since the money AHS gets is from the provincial budget.

Which doesn't help us at all, right now.

AHS can't arbitrarily increase funding, SAIL doesn't have the money to meet AUPE demands, and we're stuck with AUPE picketers outside our home over something none of us have any control over.

Fallout

After yesterday's invasion, today was the complete opposite.

Not a single picketer showed up.

We don't know why.

Unfortunately, this is part of what has made the situation so difficult for so many members.  On the one hand, we are enjoying our ability to go out and about unimpeded, without anyone taunting us, harassing us, etc.

On the other, there is this constant state of wondering, when is the shoe going to drop?  What will they do next?  Will they show up later, anyhow?

It's like a storm cloud, hovering over us, and we're all wondering if the rain will hold off? Will there be a downpour? Will the lightning strike?  Will the thunder roar?  Or will it just blow away and come back later?

Meanwhile, we have been observing the fallout of yesterday's invasion of our homes.

Source: http://healthybodynow.net/an-attitude-of-gratitude/

So many have stepped forward to support us! Your support has uplifted us and we are grateful.   We appreciate it all so much.  Through all this, we have felt abandoned by those who should have been there to protect us or stand up for us.  The police.  The politicians.  The Labour Board.  The media.  

To our supporters, Thank you.  A thousand times, thank you.

We have been in frequent contact with Ian, who has been driven from his home here in Artspace due to the effect AUPE actions have had on his health. 

Today, he informed me that David Eggen has been trying to contact him all day, adding, "on professionals advice I must remove myself from the situation for now."  

Support for Ian has been wonderful, and he has even had someone contact him to offer to escort him daily, if need be!  He has been overwhelmed by support, and extends his gratitude and thanks.  

One thing is for sure.  While what AUPE has been doing to our community has shown us some truly disturbing views of humanity, it has also brought out some of the best.  It has been an amazing, if exhausting, ride!

Here are just a few of the comments we've been seeing just on Facebook.

The true measure of a society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.
The true measure of a man can be found in how he treats those who can do him no good.
When both of these philosophies are held up against the current siege atArtspace, the AUPE fails, we fail, and David Eggen fails.
Let's stop failing. Let's stand with those who are vulnerable. Because this is about our character, our measure.

And from another post;

David Eggan betrayed the people at Artspace. Yesterday he used a megaphone to incite chanting...contributing to the noise and stress experienced by Artspace members, and the other neighbors. A friend of mine who lives at Artspace said 'I didn't sleep well because of the knife in my back,'

That friend is Ian.  Our neighbour, our friend, our inspiration.  It hurts all of us to see someone we care about so much go through such pain and trauma.

Kathleen, of Kikki Planet, has really had people coming out of the woodwork for daring to call attention to what AUPE is doing to us.  It's got to the point the accusations against her have become comical.

From others; 

Normally, I support the workers in labour disputes. But this time, I just can't.
The whole purpose of unions is to protect people from injustice. But here, there are people more vulnerable than the workers.
I do support their rights as employees. But the way they are expessing them is inappropriate.

And...

I'm so sad it's come to this. I've been a strong union supporter for many years, and I believe the hoops unions have to go through to get a first agreement in this province are punishing. That said, I can't support AUPE's actions in this - they could have done all this differently.

Variations of these comments are seen often; what AUPE has been doing to us is driving away those who would normally support them.  They express sadness, anger, shock and disgust.  

This is not about the labour dispute.  It's about AUPE using that dispute to terrorise a community. 

Others have issues calls to action.

I hope everyone who reads this will email or call David Eggen - here is his contact info: Legislature Offices Phone: (780) 415-1800 and his Constituency Offices Phone: (780) 451-2345 or email him at edmonton.calder@assembly.ab.ca - tell him he is losing support from a lot of people because of his attacks against people with disabilities.

From what I hear, many people are doing exactly that.

Eggen is not alone in this, however.  Our MLA is Brian Mason.  He has been aware of what's going on from the start; we know this through the people who have said they contacted him, and because he had been trading twitter barbs with one of our members - someone who was a SAIL user member until the strike began.  He stopped SAIL service to protect the replacement workers, who would have had to cross the street to his townhouse unit.  

Here are some of Brian Mason's responses about what's been going on here at Artspace.

Nice job of Brian Mason attacking the volunteer board that runs SAIL, many of whom have spent much of their lives fighting for their own dignity and rights.  Does Mason truly believe that this labour dispute was about the employee's "dignity" and "rights"?  No.  It was about demanding an excessive pay increase and a benefits package that a non-profit funded by AHS could not possibly provide.

Then Mason posted one of AUPE's slick, professionally produced propaganda videos. 

Because a massive, multi-million dollar organisation would be so much more trustful a source of information than the tiny non-profit company they are trying to crush into submission by picketing people's private homes and terrorising our entire street.

And just what was so "unbelievable" that Wayde posted?

So Brian Mason resorts to both an ad hominem attack and a strawman. 

Argumentation Fail.

Honestly, I can't figure out what is so "unbelievable" about this sign that was the idea of one of our members, that another printed out copies of and posted around the high rise.  It was in support of the amazing care SAIL user members had been getting from the replacement workers, who have put up with incredible abuse and stalking from the picketers - even when they were not here to work.  

AUPE picketers objected to this sign when they saw it.  They deemed it offensive.  To themselves. The same people who read out Ode to a Scab, telling those same replacement workers that they deserved to die.

Apparently, Brian Mason agreed with AUPE.  In fact, he agreed so much that he tweeted about it again.

Seriously.  What's wrong with this sign?  What is so horrible about showing support for the people who were giving SAIL user members superior care?

Even AUPE got in on the conversation.

The tactic?  Attack the person/people, rather than the issues.   

And Wayde, what are you apologising for?  What's wrong with that sign?  What's wrong with a sign of support for those who are helping user members, and doing an excellent job of it?  

As you can see by the dates on these, Brian Mason was clearly aware of the situation here at Artspace for some time, but chose to attack one of our members and play politics, rather than support his constituents. 

Oh, and this Artspace member Brian Mason was attacking?  During Saturday's invasion, his wife posted this.

So much for me getting out of my house anytime soon. AUPE is having a block party in front of Artspace today. I can't even get past front door through the people. They are playing drums and screaming.

That's right.  AUPE's illegal block party largely took place directly in front of their unit, trapping them inside.  She was unable to leave until some others came to escort her through the hostile crowd.

By the way, in order to have a legal street party, a permit is required.  To get a permit, one has to have agreement of every single person on the block.  If even a single person says no, no permit.

Of course, no one in Artspace, nor any of hour neighbours, were asked permission for the party AUPE held on our street.  

It also became a political rally.  I don't know what the rules are about that, but I'm pretty sure that it can't be a "picket line" and a political rally at the same time.

If anyone is interested in talking to Brian Mason about this, here is his contact information.

Edmonton Highlands-Norwood Constituency Office
6519 112 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5W 0P1
Phone: (780) 414-0682
Fax: (780) 414-0684
Email: Edmonton.HighlandsNorwood@assembly.ab.ca

Alberta's NDP Opposition Caucus Office
501 Legislature Annex
9718 107 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5K 1E4
Phone: (780) 415-1800
Fax: (780) 415-0701
Email: nd@assembly.ab.ca

Alberta's NDP Provincial Party Office
Suite 201, 10544 114 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5H 3J7
Phone: (780) 474-2415
Fax: (780) 669-9617
Toll free: 1 800 465-6587
Email: info@albertandp.ca

AUPE, meanwhile, continues to pretend there is nothing wrong.  This was posted on their facebook page, just a short while ago.

AUPE - Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Hi Ken appreciate the comment, but you seem to be basing your judgement on a few people that seem more intent on slandering the union than achieving a deal. There have been heated moments as in any picket line, but people are not being terrorized, they are not being held hostage, they are not being threatened with violence. Anyone who would care to know the truth could go to the picket line and see for themselves. Most don't.

AUPE, if people here in Artspace are saying they feel terrorized, that they feel like they are hostages in their homes, that they are having anxiety attacks and are even being forced from their homes to seek medical treatment, your denial if their claims simply adds to the abuse.

At some point, AUPE is going to have to acknowledge the truth, rather than try to hide it.

Oh, and people have been out, such as during their "peaceful" invasion of our home on Saturday.

I just drove by the area (out of curiosity) and had to lay on the horn to get three guys wearing union shit to get the fuck out of the way so I could drive by.
They did move, and fairly quickly, but the fact of the matter is, there were dozens of people standing on the street impeding traffic.

And on it goes.

So what comes of all this?

Today, the picketers stayed away.

What will happen tomorrow?

The day after?

What game with they play against us next?

We have no idea.

A message to David Eggen

Many of us have felt that what is being done to us here in Artspace doesn't have much to do with any labour dispute.  If that where all it was, there would have been a contract signed long ago; SAIL offered what it could.  It wasn't much, but it was something they could afford.

AUPE has rejected everything SAIL was able to offer.  It seems to us that their ultimate goal has never been to get "fair wages" or benefits for the striking care staff (and while there is a lock out now, I don't recall the strike ever being ended), since what they asked for would destroy SAIL and lose the jobs of the care staff - which the care staff was told would potentially happen before they voted to go on strike, anyhow.  Quite a few of the care staff only picket for the strike pay, anyhow - they've already got other jobs.  Most of the picketers out there are AUPE people, not the striking care staff.

No, they are after something much bigger.  They are after control of the in-home care program.

It's about money.  Control.  Power.

For AUPE, of course.  They obviously don't care that they have destroyed any trust or credibility the care staff had before all this started.

It's also about politics.

Today went a long way in proving that, when NDPer, David Eggen showed up during Saturday's invasion.

This is not the first time he has shown up on the picket line, supporting AUPE's abuse of our community.  He's been here before, as shown in this screen capture publicly viewable on Facebook.

Here he is.  The woman is someone you'll recognise in many of the videos we've got, like this one.




As for the guy presumably taking the picture - the person who posted this publicly on his facebook page - is the guy with the bull horn in the video.  David Malka, aka Red Hat Guy, Captain McCreepypants, Creeper and The Urinator.

The guy in the above video on the bull horn.

The guy who physically assaulted Artspace members who tried to protect him from video recording a mom and her two young children.

The guy who stalked several Artspace members away from Artspace, too.

The guy who triggered a medical incident in one of those people; a person who is now under doctor's orders not to return to his home here in Artspace and is undergoing treatment for PTSD.

A person who had thought David Eggen was his friend, and who had supported him in the past.

And there is a photo of Mr. Eggen, posing with our abusers, and leaving comments on the Facebook page (about "peace", of all things) of the man who has driven our friend and neighbour - someone who thought Mr. Eggen was his friend as well - from home because of the damage to his health.

David Eggen turned his back on his friends and supporters in Artspace.  He showed up for AUPE again, during today's invasion, and made a speech on a bull horn, leading to chants of "NDP!  NDP!"

Think about this.  His "friend" is a person with a brain injury.  He is not the only person in Artspace living with a brain injury.

Noise can cause serious harm to people with brain injuries, as well as those with other conditions, such as MS.

David Eggen knows about our community and who lives here.

Yet he was out there, using a bull horn.

David Eggen didn't just condone AUPE's invasion of our community and the abuse of our members.

He took part in it.

One of our staunchest supporters, Kathleen of Kikki Planet is also friends with this person.  She shared this on her facebook page.

This is Ian, who has been forced from his home at Artspace as a result of the incitement tactics of AUPE. Air raid sirens, verbal threats of physical abuse. Blocking of DATS. Blocking of private citizens from entering and exiting their home. Screaming threats at disabled residents.

This is Ian, whom David Eggen had no problem with using to his political advantage in this video.

Today David Eggen stood outside Artspace with a blow horn and countless members of the AUPE as they yet again laid siege on Ian's home.

A home he can't return to because of the medical duress the siege has caused him.

This is Ian.

Stand with Ian. Stand with SAIL. Stand with the Artspace residents who are now little more than political pawns to the AUPE and David Eggen.

This is Ian. Hear HIS story.

David Eggen - Ian's Story: http://youtu.be/2O1iyFWCRus

Well, guess what, Mr. Eggen.  Ian can no longer come home because of what AUPE is doing to our community.

Ian is among those suffering medical harm because of what AUPE is doing to our community.

And you, Mr. Eggen, have just stabbed him in the back and stomped on his heart.  Him and every other person with disabilities who thought you were their "friend."

Now we know better.

The damage is done, Mr. Eggen.

And it was done by you.

Brian Mason and AUPE

There was a previous post with a video of Brian Mason talking about the "poverty wages" our SAIL staff is supposedly suffering under.  This is a man who thinks $19.50 an hour is "poverty wages" and not a "living wage."

Personally, I've never made as much as $19.50 an hour in any job I've had, an have never felt deprived or underpaid for my work.  To the average person, that is frikkin' awesome, and a salary that they'd give their eye teeth to be able to earn.  As for the arbitrary term, "living wage," I know people who live just fine making far less, and others who make considerably more, but are always broke.  What is or isn't a "living wage" is up to the individual, not the government, and not any union.

That video goes back a ways, though.  One could be forgiven for thinking that, perhaps, Brian Mason wasn't well informed.  Perhaps he doesn't know about what's going on?  Maybe, if he really know how his constituents were being treated, he would support them, rather than union bullies.

Mason, however, knows what's going on.  Not only does he support it, he attacks those who try and point it out.

I'd mentioned he was trading twitter barbs with one of our members.  Here is what Mason thinks of what's going on.  (Names left in, due to the public nature of the conversation.)

It turns out that calling attention to what is going on and asking Mason hard questions equals "anti-labour" and "pro-scab."

Mason tries to portray himself as somehow supporting co-ops to keep their own services, and that he cares sooo much.  Unfortunately, his actions (or lack of them) speak so loudly, we cannot hear his empty words.

AUPE had got in on the conversation, too.

AUPE's comment needs to be noted for two things.  The first is that they are, once again, trying deflect away from their own actions by making accusations against SAIL.  As if that somehow justifies what they are doing?  It's illogical, but True Believers are easily fooled.

The other issue, however, is the part I blotted out.

NO information about financials from negotiations is to be publicly discussed.

NONE.

Yet, here they are, tweeting about SAIL financials (based on their past behaviour, the number is probably false, anyhow).

They also don't seem to understand the concept of living on a limited budget, as SAIL does.

But then, AUPE functions on millions of dollars of enforced union dues, so it's not like they ever have to worry about little things like budgets and being able to pay for essentials.

Call to action.

We have been asked to share this.

I wrote and called the NDP and asked for a response. I demanded that they step up and take action to end the strike and to tell the AUPE to stop their bullying. I encourage everyone who reads these words to make a quick phone call to the NDP and ask them to speak up about the attack of the AUPE against people with disabilities in their own homes. Call often, call NOW! (780) 474-2415 You can leave a post on their website here: http://albertandp.ca/contactus You can save time by copying and pasting what you write and then sending it to each and everyone listed. I am pledging to do this every day for the next month - Please join me and help end the AUPEs attack, please!

A message to Brian Mason

This is a message to Brian Mason, written on Facebook, from Lorna Thomas, who's brother lives in Artspace, after seeing this post. (link below added for background)

The Provincial NDP is no longer my party of choice. Today I also stopped my monthly donation to the party. Why? The two NDP members of the legislature have shown blatant disregard for the horrors that have played out at Artspace Housing Co-op. Brian Mason has been silent on the impact that the AUPE strike is having on my brother and the other 187 people who live at Artspace Housing Co-op. Rachel Notley has also been silent, even when the picketers disrespected a former employee of the NDP party, a woman who was the Executive Secretary for Rachel's father. I sent Ms. Notley a letter, and left two phone messages, about the verbal abuse I heard directed at this 86 year old woman, an Artspace member. When this senior was heard criticizing the strike and the behaviour of the picketers,the picket captain said to her "Mr. Notley would be so ashamed of you." I beg to differ. I am confident Mr. Notley would have been aghast at the behaviour of those on the picket line and would have been proud of the way this senior spoke out in defence of the disabled who use the home care services of Supports for Artspace Independent Living (SAIL) . But the NDP of old has given way to a new party. As a friend recently said, "The NDP is now more interested in leadership than conscience."

What Brian Mason thinks...

We've had lots of people who have told us that we need to go to the politicians about what AUPE is doing.

We have.

Artspace is in Brian Mason's riding.  He knows full well what is going on here; he trades twitter barbs with one of our members.

Brian Mason is also the current leader of the NDP.

This is what Brian Mason said...


That's right.  Brian Mason thinks $19.50 an hour is "poverty wages."  It's not a "living wage."

Spoken like a true elitist.

He is also deflecting blame to AHS.

Notice he plays the gender and immigration cards, as if that makes any different.  Equality means all are treated equal, not given special privilege due to things like race, gender or immigration status.

He also conflates Artspace with SAIL.  SAIL is the company.  SAIL is the employer.  Artspace is our home.  They are separate entities.

Brian Mason, your union buddies have been tormenting Artspace members for 2 months now.  Unlike the care workers, Artspace members live in your riding.  We are your responsibility, and you have turned your back on us, leaving us to be held hostage by union bullies.  And those poor, deprived care workers?  They are just as enthusiastic with the verbal and psychological abuse as the paid picketers.

Brian Mason has been in full support of the union, not Artspace and not SAIL.  He supports the tactics AUPE has been using against Artspace members.

Brian Mason is in full support of AUPE terrorizing some of the most vulnerable members of our community; children, the elderly and the disabled.

He is not the only politician who has turned their backs on us.  People have written to government members at all levels.  That includes the Minister of Health.  It's been 2 months, Minister.  Are you still "monitoring the situation closely."  Oh, right.  It's all about the home care workers, not the people they are holding hostage in their home and abusing.

What about our members, dear politicians?  The ones you are actually responsible for?

Here are some of our elected representatives.

Peter Goldring MP
ph: 780-414-3261
fax: 780-495-5241
email: goldrp1@parl.gc.ca

Brain Mason MLS
ph: 780-414-0682
fax: 780-414-0684
email: edmonton.highlandsnorwood@assembly.ab.ca

Constituency Manager - Rob Pearson
fax: 780-414-0684
email: rob.pearson@assembly.ab.ca

Mayor Don Iverson
ph: 780-496-8100
fax: 780-496-8292

Councillor Scott McKeen
ph: 780-496-8140
fax: 780-496-8113
email: scott.mckeen@edmonton.ab