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.