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.