Recovery Mode

It’s been a very long time between posts lately, and we are pleased to be able to say that there is some recovery happening since the labour dispute ended on December 12, 2014. We are trying to rest, regain our health and strength and recover. It has not been easy. For some members, it took more than a month before they could start sleeping again. Many still find themselves checking out their windows to see if the red truck/Rider van is really gone, and that there are no picketers. Others are still suffering from nightmares, and for still others, PTSD symptoms are beginning to appear.

We are starting to recover and will share more about this in future posts.

For now, there is a need for explanations.

As has been posted previously, this blog went quiet out of respect for the negotiating process – a spontaneous act on the part of the administrators, really, as it wasn’t something we ever had to discuss. Then, the content of the blog itself was removed with this post put up to explain.

Regarding the labour dispute between AUPE and SAIL, discussions are under way and things are looking positive.

The blog is coming down as a sign of good faith while these discussions proceed.

We are hopeful that a formal press release will be issued by SAIL and AUPE once the matter is resolved.

Thank you to all who submitted their stories, video, and photographs to the ArtspaceUnder Siege blog.

There was, of course, a lot more to it.

This email from the SAIL board is why the content came down.

Dear Artspaceundersiege administrators:

As you may or may not be aware, we have been discussing a settlement to our labour dispute with AUPE. Although we cannot discuss details we can assure you that it would include AUPE going away and SAIL paying severance to our former employees. It would mean peace in our neighbourhood!

Unfortunately, in the past week, AUPE has told our lawyer that they will not sign the settlement agreement if the blog/youtube/facebook channels are not removed/deleted. If we don’t sign a settlement agreement by December 15, they could be back here, on our street.

So in the spirit of peace for our neighbourhood, we’re asking if you would consider removing/deleting the social media (blog/youtube/facebook) regarding the labour dispute to the best of your ability.

We’ve been told there are numerous administrators and even more contributors to the blog so we’re hoping you can all meet and/or communicate over the weekend and provide a response back to us by 6 pm on Monday, December 8, 2014.

It pains us to make this request as we know we are asking you to give up your highly-valued human right to freedom of expression. It is unfortunate the peace in our neighbourhood will come at such a high cost.

No matter what you decide, we will fully respect and support the decision you make.

In cooperative spirit,

SAIL Board of Directors

That’s right. AUPE’s not-a-lawyer was willing to let the deal fail – even after the striking SAIL staff voted to accept severance – over the blog and YouTube videos, which SAIL has no control over. Yes, they knew SAIL had nothing to do with the blog. They certainly had been told that often enough! They wanted us silenced, or they would reject the deal (which would have meant the striking SAIL staff would not get their severance) and be back to picketing our home.

Which sounds a lot like blackmail, don’t you think?

There were quite a few problems with their demand. The first of which is; the blog/Youtube videos don’t belong to any one person. Even among administrators, the number has changed as people came and went, depending on their circumstances. Current and former administrators would have to be reached, and at least some of the contributors, in a very short time. There was no way to reach all the contributors, as some are them are completely anonymous; not even we administrators know who submitted commentary.

We did the best we could, though. Of those that could be contacted, the response was unanimous. Each and every one of us wanted to give AUPE a great big "F*** You!"

This blog has been the only place Artspace members, friends and family have been able to be safely heard. Most of us aren’t big users of social media, and some of us don’t even have computers. It was only by sharing what was being done to us on this blog that people could give voice to the hostile and damaging environment we found ourselves living in, with the videos as proof, thanks to AUPE’s picketer behaviour, and their targeting of our homes, rather than the place of employment.

To us, it was clearly AUPE’s way of damage control; the exposure of their actions here was giving them a black eye, and they wanted to scrub it and silence us.

So our initial answer was a resounding “no!”

However, we also had to think of our community. It was obvious that SAIL would be punished if we said ‘no’, and we all knew of AUPE’s intention to bankrupt SAIL, even before their negotiator had to admit he’d said so, while under oath at the Labour Board hearing in November. We had to think of everyone living in Artspace, as well as our neighbours on 101A Avenue, who had been terrorised and tormented for 7 months.

AUPE put the SAIL board in a terrible place by saying they wouldn’t sign the agreement until the blog came down. Not only because SAIL has no control over the blog, but because of the obvious attack on our free speech; our right to talk about and show what was being done at our home and to our community.

AUPE put us in a terrible place, as we administrators had to make a decision without any way of consulting everyone who contributed to the blog. We take our fundamental commitment to democracy seriously - we have that human right.  

Plus, none of us were part of the labour dispute.  We just happen to live here, or visit friends and family members who live here.

There was another problem with the request, and it showed just how little AUPE seems to understand the Internet. Even if we were able to somehow remove all our content, there are still ways for people to find things, such as Google Cache and the Wayback Machine. Of course, we have no control over what people have shared on their Facebook pages, or other social media. Sure, the links wouldn’t work anymore, but they would still be there. As some of our members wrote on signs at Artspace; the Internet is forever. We have no control over that.

In the end, out of respect for our friends on the SAIL board, and our community, we decided to bring down the blog and Youtube channel. We knew that, ultimately, AUPE had no legal or moral right to make this request. However, since they were asking us to take down stuff, when we responded to SAIL with our “yes,” we also included a list of AUPE’s online content about SAIL and Artspace, suggesting they take their stuff down, too.

Because we are not privy to the agreement, and the SAIL board is apparently not allowed to tell us what’s in it, all we know is that some of those links we shared were removed as part of the agreement.

Which is why, if you go to the AUPE website and Youtube channels, you will not find anything about the labour dispute with SAIL. Which, in the end, really benefits them, since so much of what they had did a great job of demonstrating our own case against them. Like their hours of “peaceful picket line” video that showed the picketers repeatedly trespassing and the like. Seriously, you’d think that if they were making these videos to refute our own videos, they would not do something so blatantly stupid, like leave the picket line and walk/trespass onto the Artspace parking lot.

Apparently, their not-a-lawyer was quite shocked that we took the stuff down, though they scoured the Internet to find other things for us to take down, like the Pinterest account we’d forgotten about. Then they took their stuff down, and finally, the agreement was signed.

So now you, dear reader, know why the blog posts were removed.

The New Guy

AUPE's  efforts to counter the reality of what they've been doing at our home for the past several months have so far included a couple of audio interviews that they've posted online.  A sort of "man in the street" thing.

We did wonder how they could have someone ready and available to interview some supposedly random person who came to check out the picket line.

Turns out they've simply hired their own Newspeak specialist for their Ministry of Truth propaganda machine.

Sure enough, they've got a new paid picketer, who's job is apparently to sit around at our home in wait, to "interview" these "random" visitors, as well as the picketing SAIL staff.  Two of his "spontaneous" interviews are already online.

Of course, any supposedly random visitor isn't going to be seeing what AUPE has been doing to us for months, now that the leashes are on.

They're not going to see the hours of noise from megaphones, bulb horns, kazoos, car horns, various forms of vocalisations and yes, even the air raid siren.

They're not going to see the picketers taunting a non-verbal woman in her home, to the point that she can't go out on her balcony.

They're not going to get a chance to talk to our members who've had to increase their pain medications, or were forced from their homes to undergo treatment for PTSD.

They're not going to see the picketers as they continue to verbally harass some of our members (hint to AUPE: any time one of your picketers forces their attention onto a member; no matter how fake-friendly the words used, it still falls under the definition of harassment), or lie in wait for a certain care worker they have targeted for exceptional levels of abuse.

It's pretty unlikely they'll have read this blog or seen the videos - if they did, they'd know that AUPE has been in damage control for a while now.

But then, if they did read this blog, they'd know it would be pointless to come out to the picket line at AUPE's invitation and talk to the "care" staff.

They'd already know it was all an act.

Outright False

Noticed the photo used in the header of the AUPE twitter page that's supposedly by the SAIL staff.

Check out the placard in this screen capture.

Another example of AUPE Newspeak.  This statement is just plain false.

They weren't locked out because they asked for benefits.  That was one of the things they went on strike for (though they had rejected a benefits package a couple of years ago as being too expensive; the choice was between a lower wage with benefits, or a higher wage and no benefits.  They chose the money).

They were locked out because, on seeing their behaviour on the picket line, all trust and confidence in them was destroyed, and the user members no longer felt they would be safe with these "care" workers in their home.

They weren't locked out because they asked for benefits.

They were locked out for the protection of user members.

The public image game continues

So with all the videos, posts and public blowback over AUPE's tactics while picketing our homes, AUPE has yanked on some leashes and forced the picketers to behave.

They clearly aren't too happy about it.  One even snarled at an Artspace member who said "good morning" to her - which is funny, considering one of their favourite methods of harassment is to shout out fake-friendly comments in relentless and taunting manners.  This is a group that has made "see you tomorrow" into a threat.

They also escape their leashes when they think no one is looking, continue to verbally harass people, and continue to hunt and stalk others.

They were posting long, boring video taken from a camera set up in the pee patch, counting on people to be dumb enough to believe the picketers would actually behave the way they have been for months, in front of their own cameras while in the middle of damage control.

Well, the police finally had a talk with them about having their camera on our private property, so they moved that one.

Now it's set up behind their van, facing into the high rise.

So while they've now got the tripod on the street instead of our private property, they are taking even more invasive video of our private spaces and into our homes.

In their efforts to engage in Newspeak, they started up a new twitter account, supposedly from the picketing SAIL staff.

The first time some of us stumbled on it, we actually thought it had to be some sort of spoof, or some kind of sarcastic parody, because of this.

Terrible photo aside, it looks like something someone puked up.  

We figured it had to be someone trying to make the real care staff - the replacement workers that have been doing such a great job - look bad by thinking this is what they were feeding our user members.

But no, apparently this is a genuine account, and someone seriously posted this disgusting photo like it was a good thing - and yes, the recipe did get posted in a series of tweets.

Now I'm the one horrified at the thought that our striking care staff may have been feeding stuff like this to our user members!  

Maybe instead of harassing Y all the time, they should be asking her for cooking lessons, because not only is her food amazingly delicious, it looks good, too.

AUPE is planning to hold another party at our home on Monday.  It's supposed to be a potluck.

If this is what they've got to look forward to, I feel rather sorry for them.

AUPE still playing the game

After yesterday's respite, where no picketers showed up at all, they were back again today.

About the only thing we can be thankful for is that they're being quiet.

A member sent these screen caps from the AUPE Facebook page.

Here, AUPE is still trying to pretend that what has been done to us for that past 100 plus days can just be disappeared, because LO!  Behold!  They have long, boring video of picketers behaving.

While we can appreciate that the backlash has forced AUPE to get the picketers to at least tone down their behaviour in front of their cameras, they still refuse to acknowledge a couple of things.

First off, they are still picketing our private homes (and brazenly trespass). In fact, the camera they are using to record these videos is on our private property, so every video from that camera is evidence of their trespassing.

They continue to treat our home as if it is a care facility; a work site.

These are our homes.

Second, the incidents haven't stopped.  Off camera, people are still being stalked, harassed and entrapped.

The staged videos AUPE is putting up only proves that, when the picketers are in front of their own cameras, they sort of behave.

I say "sort of" because this morning, they still engaged in verbal harassment by yelling at them from across the street, despite being repeatedly told not to engage this family.

They continue to call out people by name, when those people do not know them (in regards to misconduct, this demonstration of personal knowledge falls under intimidation and infiltration).

They were seen stealing flowers from our garden beds.

They blocked the replacement workers for so long, a SAIL user member missed a medical appointment.

The fact remains that, as long as they are picketing our private homes, blocking traffic in our private parking, etc., they continue to cause harm to members who live here.  The effects of psychological abuse do not go away just because the abuser isn't actively engaging in overt abuse.  So much damage has been done to our members, the mere presence of the picketers continues to cause harm.

Here we have AUPE once again trying to manipulate public image through misinformation.

First off, the mediator didn't say SAIL had enough money.  The mediator only compared with other collective agreements - with large facilities like hospitals - and basically dismissed SAIL's financial information as irrelevant.

There was no compromise.

Why would a mediator recommend something that would bankrupt SAIL?  Why would a mediator not even consider the actual amount of money SAIL gets?

We have no idea.

Also, "SAIL" did not vote against it.  AUPE is either demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of how SAIL works, or deliberately misleading the public.

Let's explain it again.

SAIL is run by a volunteer board.  The board looked at the mediator recommendation, discussed options, figured out which would be the best to choose.

The board presented this information to the SAIL user members, fully informing them in regards to the recommendation and the different options, then presented their own recommendation.

Members then discussed options and the user members voted to accept the one the board recommended.

A media statement was released the next day.

AUPE already had professionally printed pamphlets ready and picketers began their retaliation against Arstpace, as they had already threatened to do, immediately.  Which rather implies they knew the recommendation was not financially viable, and that SAIL and SAIL users had no real choice but to reject it.

Back to the screen cap above; AUPE next plays the public image manipulation game.  It is the care staff that is being bullied, you see.  How?  By being offered "pennies" and with a lock out.  As if the lock out were some sort of punishment, rather than to protect our own user members from people they no longer felt safe allowing into their homes.

Never mind that those "pennies" - plus benefits - where the best SAIL could offer and still remain solvent (especially before SAIL even know how much the new funding from AHS was going to be - funding that has actually decreased, because there are fewer user members).

Never mind that the care workers were already being paid highest in their field, when comparing apples to apples instead of apples to watermelons.

Never mind that, had SAIL accepted the recommendation, it would have bankrupted them and those same care workers AUPE claims to defend would be out their jobs.

Then they really lay it on by saying SAIL's "allies" are claiming their "legal right to a picket line is terrorism and abuse..."

No, AUPE.  We've never tried to deny anyone their right to picket.  We've said it time and again; we want the labour regulations for picketing to be enforced.

1) peaceful (and that means always, not just when posing for AUPE cameras)
2) at the place of employment (not on private property, not our homes)
3) no unlawful activity, no misconduct.

And, given the actions of picketers - most of whom are not the striking/locked out care staff - we would also like to see accountability for those unlawful acts and misconduct.

AUPE, what's done is done.  The videos (including so much more than we've been able to get online) are the evidence.

At this point, AUPE is starting to sound like Baghdad Bob.

The person they were talking to seemed to catch on to that.

I have to admit, I don't know where this person got that particular information; the driver was a visitor helping a pregnant woman who was moving in, and they were leaving.  The driver also was very careful to drive *between* picketers (who should not have been blocking him in the first place), and it was the picketers who put themselves in harm's way by jumping in front.  No one was hurt.

The writer is correct, however, in that the people being hassled have already been diminished and hassled all their lives.  It was through their efforts to reclaim their dignity and independence that Artspace and SAIL came into existence.

These are the people that AUPE is attacking.

These are the people who fought for Artspace to be built - a place with many accessible units aimed at providing affordable housing and designed for the independence of people with disabilities.

The people who fought to have an in-house care company, consumer driven and volunteer run, that would allow them to control who provided them with the care they needed, who could come in and out of their own homes, control their own care, and have help available, 24/7 should unexpected needs arise.

These are the people AUPE claims are bullying the care workers.  

These are the people AUPE is targeting.

They especially like to target this person.

And this person.  

That fact remains that AUPE has chosen to target a community filled with some of the most vulnerable people; people with both visible and invisible disabilities, the elderly and even children and our pets.

They are not picketing a company.  They are not picketing an employer.

They are picketing a community.  Our families.  Our friends.  Our homes.

And they have done so so aggressively, that it has caused medical harm to many of our members.

They have done so in such a way as to create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety within our own homes, to the point that members cannot look outside their own windows are enjoy their own balconies and patios without being harassed.

They not only continue to pretend that their actions have been "peaceful", but they even stepped it up with another invasion of our street; an illegal block party that they call a "picket line." - and STILL pretended they were being "peaceful."

Then they bag about it.  

Know that this picture is from a day when our community was overrun with strangers, when people felt trapped in their homes, while AUPE members and their "guests" trespassed and assaulted us with high levels of noise.

This event that they so proudly show off was actually held 101 days into this dispute, in an obvious punishment for our own silent vigil at day 100.

We at Artspace remain under siege by an hostile force, intent on taking control of the care company that provides personal care to a few of our members.

We at Artspace still cannot enjoy the peace of our own homes.

All because our members dare to want control over who enters those homes.

All because our members are fighting to keep the in-house care company that allows them to live independent lives outside of institutions solvent.

All because we refuse to bow down to bullying, intimidation, coercion, provocation, threats, abuse and unlawful acts.

AUPE - in between blaming others for their picketers' behaviour, or justifying it by saying that sure, sometimes things get "heated" on the picket line - tries to pretend that they are just trying to do "what's right"

By that statement, they seem to be saying that the abuse of our community - which they admit they have done at senior's centres, too - for more than 100 days is perfectly acceptable

It is not.

So Proud of what they are doing.

AUPE is so proud of their Saturday invasion of our street and homes, they tweeted a group photo.

Remember, every single one of those people simply showed up in our neighbourhood for a street party.

At our private homes.

Without our permission.

Again.

Then they had the nerve to claim it was all quiet and peaceful, while our own members were assaulted by the noise and felt trapped in their homes.

A question for all those people in the picture.

How many of you have any idea that this community has members who were harmed by your actions?

How many of you care that your sudden invasion of our community lead to anxiety attacks, increased pain and stress?

How many of you realise that people were medically harmed by the noise levels outside their homes?

How many of you would like it if a sudden crowd of loud, boisterous people - some of whom have harassed, intimidated and threatened you and/or your neighbours, for months - showed up outside your door, screaming, yelling, chanting, singing, playing loud music and having a big ole party, taking pleasure in the pain and discomfort they were causing you and your family?

Because that's what you were doing.

Maybe you thought this was some great party; all rah-rah, solidarity and sticking it to the man.

Well, this is who you invaded.  This is who you targeted.  This is who you hurt.  These are the big bad union busters AUPE claims is trying to take them down.

Congratulations, AUPE and supporters who invaded our homes on Saturday.

You've contributed to AUPE's bullying and abuse of an entire neighbourhood.

You even brought your kids along to take part.

AUPE picketers like to scream out "shame" at us, here in Artspace.

The people who really ought to be ashamed wear the faces you see in the mirror.

On the inside

We admins here at Artspace Under Siege don't have a twitter account.  Maintaining this blog takes a great deal of time and energy.  Some of us are able bodied, some are not, and some are somewhere in between.  Adding twitter on top of this blog is a bit more than we can add to our plates.

Some of our non-admin members, however, do have twitter accounts, and one had been tweeting - with an injury! - during the Saturday invasion.  Here are some of her tweets.

AUPE kept insisting their invasion of our community was "friendly" and "peaceful."

What is that saying, about a lie repeated often enough?

AUPE, if people in the community feel threatened and trapped in their homes because a crowd showed up at their front doors and held and illegal block party/political rally, telling them you're being "friendly" or "peaceful" doesn't change that.  Denying them their feelings is classic abuser behaviour.

The comment about a member trying to speak, but being cut off and drowned out, is typical of trying to have a "conversation" with anyone on the picket line (unless it's staged, of course).  They don't dialogue.  They don't listen.  They interrupt, insult, mindlessly repeat scripted talking points, yell, intimidate and behave in a threatening manner, such as looming over someone (particularly distressing to people in wheelchairs) or swarming.  A real conversation is simply not possible with this crowd.

As for the police, they did eventually come.  Sort of.  They drove through a few times.  One police vehicle arrived around 1:30, which a lot of the invaders had already packed up and left, the drumming had stopped, the political rally was over, etc.  Nothing was done.

What is frustrating is to be told by the police that we should take it to the labour board.

This isn't about the labour dispute. Most of us have nothing to do with the labour dispute.  This is about having our neighbourhood invaded with sudden party, complete with free Fat Franks,
with lots of noise and yelling and chanting, trespassing on private property, blocking the street, causing people to fear leaving their own homes, even causing distress to our pets.  These are things that should fall under police jurisdiction.

Laws should not be suspended because someone has slapped the label of "labour dispute" or "picket line" on their activities.

Retaliation is all it is, really.

Artspace members have stood up to AUPE for 100 days.  Our community, most of whom have no say in the labour dispute, have been targeted for abusive misconduct while they picket our private homes.

They try to blame SAIL for their actions.  Try to turn us against each other.  Try to tell us that if only SAIL would do what they want, give them what they want, they would go away (sounds like extortion, doesn't it?).

They threaten us with increased picketer misconduct if SAIL doesn't do what they demand, and when they don't get their way, the retaliate against our entire community.  Not even our neighbours can escape the effects.

AUPE tries to create this image of SAIL being this big, bad, oppressive company that has mistreated its employees and oppressed those poor, immigrant women.

What they forget is that SAIL is a volunteer board of Artspace members.

They are not some faceless corporation or distant management.

They are our friends.  Our neighbours.

They are people we can talk to at any time.

We are on the inside of all this.

Fully informed.

Fully aware.

AUPE's attempts to control the image of what's happening here might work on their members who know only what AUPE tells them.

It won't work on those of us who are in the middle of it all.

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.

More on the invasion

Member videos have been trickling in.

AUPE has been targeting our community - our homes - since May 7.  They pretend that this is about "fair wages", when the care staff are actually being paid the highest in their field, when compared to equivalent jobs (which the union refuses to do, comparing instead to jobs in institutions).  They pretend this is about "rights" - but they get to define what rights are, and who gets to have them protected.  They play this game with their public image, trying to portray SAIL as this horrible, oppressive company that's taking advantage of its employees, when the reality is that SAIL is run by volunteers and funded by AHS, and has offered as much as they possibly can in wages and benefits and still remain solvent.

Like they did on Canada Day, AUPE brought out Fat Franks and had a party on our street.  They invaded our homes, trespassed, blocked traffic, made huge amounts of noise and trapped people in their homes.

This was an invasion.  Nothing more, nothing less.

They invaded our street.

They invaded our property.

They invaded our community.

Their actions are causing medical harm to our members.

Worse, they did so with the support of politicians and with the police claiming they can do nothing about it.

AUPE can keep playing the race card, the gender care - and now they're trying to play the "women's rights" card - all they want.

They cannot escape the truth.

The truth that they are trampling over the human rights of a community.

The truth that they have laid siege to our private homes.

The truth that they are causing harm to the people - and animals - that live here.

To you watching this videos, just imagine this happening outside our door.  On your street.  In your community.

This is our reality.

Peaceful, is it?

AUPE has been insisting that their picketers here at Artspace have been peaceful.  

AUPE claims that it's been the picketers that are the victims, and Artspace members are the abusers.

AUPE dismisses problems on the picket line as being old, as if that somehow makes it okay.

AUPE does not acknowledge that incidents continue.

Including today.

This was sent in by Jody, the woman in the security video montage seen being mobbed and harassed.

Bringing my 5 year old son Chance home from surgery today...he was crying, in pain, and confused. And as a mother I was incapable of changing it.

Needless to say it was a long drive home...the only place he wanted to be. Chance loves the comfort of his home you see. The couch were he cuddles in to settle and recover.

And as I look over to the tiny teardrop rolling down his innocent cheek, as he fades back into sedation. I feel the strength of a thousand protective lionesses.

Earlier as we attempted to enter our driveway, I am antagonized yet again by AUPE picketers. The same girl that dances in front of my vehicle, displaying her sly taunting smile. As though she has something on me. As though I have done something wrong.

Well let it be known...I am a childhood sexual abuse survivor...I have been beaten, raped, abused in unmentionable ways. I have the spirit of a warrior and like those lioness I will protect and defend what's close to my heart. I am not easily broken.

From the beginning this strike has created unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach...because it feels so familiar and something I have refused to tolerate in my life one second more..ABUSE.
When I witnessed Dave Malka physically assault my neighbor twice.... When the strikers psychologically abused my son yelling to him "your mommy is bad, very bad". When my picture has been plastered all over the internet stating I'm antiunion. When I was threatened to be sent to jail for refusing literature. When they antagonize and yell to my balcony " when are you taking Chance to T-ball Jody?" Because they have violated our privacy by reading his schedule through the window while holding our car up for half an hour.

Over and over and over... ABUSE. Abuse in its many forms...physical, psychological and emotional.

And so here I am...attempting to care for my little boy. To bring him home to our "safe place" to be nurtured and heal. Nothing out of the ordinary... A privilege most reading this take for granted.

And when I tell them to "Fuck off" I'm told I'm not nice. Conclusion accurate dear Watson.

This question repeats in my mind..."How AUPE have you benefited your cause?"

I am strong beyond measure. Carry on with your antics...dance while slyly smiling. Pretend you are fighting through something monumental. My journey far exceeds anything you may ever perceive. Your abuse is insignificant in the overall picture in so many of our lives...and one day this will all end.

Until then hear me roar...I will not be passively silent!

Artspace Strong.

AUPE still trying to hide

A supporter sent this in:

IF THAT AIN’T AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS
So I went on AUPE’s facebook page this morning and commented on one of the posts (or comment) I saw from an AUPE member.......all I said to him was, “see for yourself, check out the video footage on artspaceundersiege.com”. AUPE’s response to me was to go to the picket line and see for myself! I responded with “I have, it was my pregnant daughter that AUPE’s “lawyer” was mocking and harassing”.

Again I urged any AUPE member that might be second guessing the tactics used, don’t take my word for it but go to artspaceundersiege.com!! They DELETED all my comments and have blocked me from commenting anymore!

Talk about keeping people in the dark.
Please go and do the same!!!!

Quite a number of people have reported commenting on the AUPE Facebook page about what is happening here at Artspace, then having their comments removed and getting blocked from commenting.

Of course, anyone who runs a Facebook page has every right to remove comments and block people.  Usually it's done because people are trolling the page, leaving hateful comments, harassing people, etc.  Friends of SAIL has had to do that when people from AUPE would "like" the page, then leave comments that showed they weren't "friends" of SAIL at all.  Some would use the page to stalk Artspace members online, and a lot of people no longer feel safe posting there anymore.  

This is not a matter removing offencive language or trolls.  What AUPE is doing is removing comments and blocking people who are challenging their image of themselves as victims, with SAIL and Artspace members as the bullies.  Of course, they are inviting people to come out to the picket line now, which means the picketers have had their leashes pulled in tight.

And yet, they still do things like this.

This is a screen capture of their Facebook page.  I'll admit, I didn't catch it right away; they have posted so many of these in front of the high rise, I didn't notice the location.

Go here to see and read more about what happened that day.

So AUPE is busily trying to pretend that all the stuff that the picketers have been doing is just hype and exaggerated (kind of hard to exaggerate what's on video), pretending that this has been a "peaceful" picket line, and going so far as to censor their Facebook page to prevent people visiting from seeing what's really going on.

Then they post a photo of AUPE picketers - including AUPE staff - trespassing on Artspace property.  The same group that, as posted yesterday, then began to verbally harass an Artspace member recording their transgression, and are then heard talking about targeting an individual.

Are they really so proud of the fact that they have invaded our homes, that they have no compunction about posting pictures of it on their Facebook page?

Update: video taken of this photo shoot.

So very strange

Things have not been going well for AUPE, as more and more people see the videos of what they have been doing to our community, and even their supporters are turning against them.

Their answer seems to be to reign in the picketers and invite people to come and see just how quiet and peaceful things are now.

The picketers didn't even show up until 11 on Saturday, leaving at 4.  Today, they quietly showed up and quietly left.  Now, AUPE is trying to pretend that this is normal!

So this is all hype, is it?

Sorry, AUPE, but you can't suddenly tell the picketers to behave, and everything that's been done for the last 3 months will suddenly disappear as if it never happened.

You are still picketing our private homes.

Not the employer's place of business.

Not a work site.

Claiming all of Artspace as a work site is like a housekeeping company or a pizza delivery company laying claim to their customer's homes as their work sites.

These remain our private homes.  Only 1 unit is the place of business.  Nothing else.

Not the front of the high rise.

Not the townhouses.

Not the driveways to parking areas.

Not the cul de sac on 94th, where a care worker who was NOT there as a replacement worker was blocked - on the street - for 1 1/2 hours, subjected to constant verbal abuse, degradation and harassment.

What's done is done.  Changing tactics does not make AUPE and the picketers any less guilty of misconduct.

Ramping it up again?

Yesterday turned out to be another example of AUPE abuse of Artspace residents, on a day when negotiations were scheduled to restart.  The negotiations are scheduled for the evening, and picketers openly threatened Artspace members that things would get worse if negotiations didn't go their way.  They got loud and obnoxious, interfered with people trying to go to and from their homes, continued to treat private property as their own personal space, played ball in the street and interfered with traffic (for a street only a block long, we get a LOT of traffic), and so on.

They're not even pretending that this about SAIL.  They are blatantly targeting not only Artspace members, but the entire neighbourhood.  They say they intend to target everybody, and threaten that it will keep getting worse.

Nice of them to warn us of their intentions to escalate their abuse, I suppose.

As followers of this blog know, there has been discussion of their use of noise as a weapon, and the effects it has, both physically and psychologically.  AUPE members read this blog, so they can't pretend not to know this, either.

Which means that when they come out here, with their kazoos, horns and bells on top of their usual vocal assaults, they are doing so with the very specific goal of causing people harm.  This is a deliberate and violent attack on Artspace members.

Playing the Imperial March was a nice touch.  AUPE as The Empire seems rather appropriate.

Their behaviour continues to be completely detached from reality.  It accomplishes nothing for their "cause."  It's not going to magically produce more money to pay for their demands - demands Artspace members have nothing to do with, anyhow.  They can't seem to understand simple concepts, like "budget".  I guess when you have a bottomless pit of union dues that can be used to pay people to wander around a neighbourhood, assaulting and harassing people who have NOTHING to do with the labour dispute - tax free, too - the idea that a small company, funded entirely by AHS, can't meet their demands just doesn't grok.

Or maybe they do and, as many members believe, their actual intent has never been to improve the lot of those oh-so-oppressed ladies (cue race and gender cards, complete with sad violins), but to bankrupt SAIL.  (Or Artspace.  They can't seem to be able to tell the difference between the two.)  After all, when the care staff were going to vote whether or not to unionize, AUPE told them, right from the start, that they intended to strike.  When the care staff were voting to strike, AUPE also told them that, if things went too long, SAIL would go bankrupt and they would lose their jobs.  The care workers voted to strike, anyhow.  They can't say that all they want is benefits, since a benefits package had also been offered previously and rejected as too expensive, along with other offers during negotiations. SAIL actually agrees that they should have a benefits package - they just have to be able to stay within budget.  It's not like they have any ability to increase their income, unlike a normal company that offers goods and services, and can try to increase sales or something.

I think the most laughable thing about their behaviour is their complaints about our banners and signs.  One guy was heard to describe them as "profanity", then immediately swore.  None of the banners use profane language, yet they themselves use foul language frequently.

Of course, there is an obvious solution.  If they don't like the signs, they don't have to be here.  Unlike Artspace members, they have a choice to be somewhere else.  This is our home.  They are the ones invading our neighbourhood.  What sort of delusional world do they have to be living in, for them to come to OUR home, behave the way THEY behave, then claim we are the ones who should be ashamed?  At this point, we start to question their mental faculties.  It's no wonder so many members feel their behaviour is cult-like.

Meanwhile, AUPE keeps trying to portray the striking care staff as having been oh-so trod upon.  In a recent article to AUPE members, they wrote that the care staff were *gasp* "made to" perform housekeeping duties, under threat of termination.

Hello, but that's part of their job description.  That's part of being a Home Health Care Aide.  That's part of providing care that allows for independent living.  Priority is on personal care, then meal preparation and feeding, then housekeeping and laundry.  What do they expect?  The people in wheelchairs to do it?  Home care IS THEIR JOB, and that includes washing cupboards and helping with pets - many of whom are companion animals and part of a user member's health care.  If they are not willing to DO THEIR JOB, then of course they would risk losing their jobs.  You have to actually DO your job in order to keep it.

This is a job description taken from the government job bank, for Home Health Care Aide positions in Alberta - not for an in-house care company, like SAIL, but with a private company.

Specific Skills: Prepare, cook and serve meals, Shop for food and household supplies, Launder clothing and household linens, Mend clothing and linens, Perform light housekeeping and cleaning, Provide personal care, Provide companionship, Assist clients in water (i.e. pool), Administer bedside and personal care, Feed or assist in feeding, Change non-sterile dressings, Administer medications, Assist clients to walk, Aid clients with bathing and other aspects of personal hygiene
Work Location Information: Work in employer's/client's home
Transportation/Travel Information: Public transportation is available
Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Work under pressure, Repetitive tasks, Physically demanding, Combination of sitting, standing, walking, Bending, crouching, kneeling

If they worked for a care facility, rather than for SAIL, their job requirements would be quite different.  Like this job listing.

Specific Skills: Take patients' blood pressure, temperature and pulse, Lift, turn or massage patients, Supervise patients' exercise routines, Administer suppositories, colonic irrigations and enemas, Bathe, dress and groom patients, Transport patients in wheelchair or stretcher
Additional Skills: Supply and empty bed pans, Make beds and maintain patients' rooms
Security and Safety: Bondable, Basic security clearance, Criminal record check, Tuberculosis test
Work Conditions and Physical Capabilities: Fast-paced environment, Work under pressure, Repetitive tasks, Physically demanding, Manual dexterity, Attention to detail, Ability to distinguish between colours, Sound discrimination, Standing for extended periods, Combination of sitting, standing, walking, Bending, crouching, kneeling, Walking

Our care staff isn't even qualified to do some of this; the LPN has to do it.

Working for SAIL, our day staff has only 4-5 hours of scheduled time (night staff only 1-2 hours).  Unlike other home care workers, they don't have to go from house to house.  They get to stay in one place.  Their unscheduled down time is essential to our user members, as it allows user members to call for help when unexpected needs arise - such as when something falls and breaks, and cannot wait until scheduled time to be cleaned up.  Or when a member has a personal hygiene accident.  Or any other unexpected need arises.  This doesn't happen often, but often enough that user members are happy to pay care staff to do nothing for hours, just in case a need arises.

This brings up an interesting situation for our user members.  It's said that we don't know how good we've got things, until they are gone.  For Artspace user members, it's been the opposite.  They didn't know how bad things were until the staff went on strike.  Now, with the replacement workers, they suddenly realize how bad their care had been.  This, coupled with seeing and hearing the care staff on the picket line (the rare times they show up), our user members don't want them back.  They do not feel they would be safe with these individuals anymore, and they would not be willing to go back to a substandard level of care.

So I suppose we should thank AUPE for convincing the care workers to go on strike.  If they hadn't, our user members would still be forced to endure their poor work ethics and shoddy care.

There's what AUPE says, and then there's reality

There are a couple of accusations from AUPE that I wanted to address.

Accusations against Artspace members, our board, the SAIL board, etc. are not unusual.  They have invented by-laws, accused members of breaking them (as well as making false accusations of breaking real by-laws) and threatened to report them to authorities.  They try to portray our striking care staff as kindly and innocent when in reality, they have been just as threatening, intimidating, obnoxious and offensive as the paid picketers.  They laughably try to portray the picketers as the victims of bullying at the hands of Artspace members, when it's provably the other way around.  It's all part of a carefully orchestrated campaign for the public eye - and one of the reasons this blog so clearly angers them.

After the Breakfast Television spot from City TV, they have been particularly desperate to try and regain control of their ability to control the narrative, and part of that seems to involve increasing the severity of their accusations.

In particular, they have made two serious ones - not serious because they made them, since they have a record of making false accusations - but serious due to the nature of their claims.

The first one I will address is their claim that picketers "have been rammed by cars."

Let's think about this one for a bit.  They are actually claiming Artspace members have RAMMED picketers with their cars.

If someone actually were RAMMED by a car, there would have been injuries, and you can bet that AUPE would have pressed charges - and rightfully so.  If it really happened.

This accusation, however, is easily refuted.  Even if we were to grant that AUPE is using hyperbole in using the word "rammed" (which would be a stupid thing to do, but then so is making such an accusation in the first place), there is the small problem of proof.

Interactions with picketers have been recorded from the beginning.  There are the security cameras on the building, video cameras from security staff, and people all over the place using their phones to take video, including security staff, the picketers themselves, and Artspace members.  On top of that are the numerous eye witnesses.

What has been clear from the start is that picketers have gone out of their way to try and get hit by cars and, to be honest, I'm rather surprised they haven't succeeded, given how reckless they have been.  It speaks more to the control of Artspace members than their own efforts.  Picketers have swarmed moving vehicles, stepped in the path of vehicles as they were backing out of parking spots, suddenly leaped in front of moving vehicles after the drivers thought they were clear, and engaged in obviously choreographed attempts to make it appear as if they had been struck, including doing things like hitting vehicles to make noise as if they were hit.  While many have done this, two people in particular were noted by witnesses for these attempts, Captain McCreepypants and the union negotiator, as they actually threatened vehicular assault charges. It has all been very blatant and obvious.  As one eye witness to this put it, they need acting lessons.

What has also been blatantly obvious throughout the strike is the union's efforts to provoke reactions from Artspace members.  It has been clear that they would have wanted nothing more than to have one of our members lose it and resort to violence.  This was obvious in their methods of approaching people, their continual verbal harassment, their recording of private activities, luring and recording of children, physical intimidation, verbal intimidation, insults, etc.  Topping their intimidation tactics has been their use of people's names, and demonstrating their knowledge of personal details, such as what unit numbers they live in, birthdays, the names of siblings and even knowledge of where family members live.  All of these are designed to frighten people and provoke them to react.

The most harmful of their tactics has been the use of noise.  Not just the use of the megaphone, which I will address later, but all of it.  The shouting, singing and chanting.  Loud music.  Bringing a cane and slamming it into the sidewalk while walking to make noise, and so on.

Noise is a weapon.  Sound can be an assault as damaging as physical blows.  Historically (and in modern times), sound has been used as a weapon of war, terrorism and torture.  The picketers have been using noise as a weapon against Artspace members since the strike started.

Loud noise has a number of effects on people.  These include evoking a "fight or flight" stress response, causing the brain to release stimulating chemicals; overexposure to these chemicals can actually cause brain damage, as well as developmental damage in children.  It raises blood pressure and heart rates by creating high stress levels. It disturbs sleep, causes fatigue and aggression, interferes with concentration, thought processes and speech.  It causes irritability, depression and headaches, reduces immune responses and can cause gastric ulcers.  It increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Acoustic energy has the ability to profoundly influence an individual's brain waves, respiratory cycles, nervous system, muscle function, heart rate and glandular functions.  As such, a benign acoustic space can readily be turned into violence against the individual. 1.

It is difficult to stress just how harmful the use of noise as a weapon can be, both physically and psychologically.

The effects of auditory assault is bad enough on people who are in overall good health.  What about those who aren't?  What about the elderly, children or the vulnerable?

And what does all of this have to do with AUPE's accusations?

In Artspace, some of our members live with MS, spinal cord and brain injures.  AUPE knows this.  The picketers know this.

The stress responses created by loud noise is physical, and for those with spinal cord injuries, MS, Guillain-Barre syndrome, head or brain injuries, these physiological responses can lead to a life threatening condition called Autonomic Dysreflexia.  AD can result in stroke, retinal hemorrhage, cardiac arrest and pulmonary edema.  Symptoms include anxiety, apprehension, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, a pounding headache, flushed skin, profuse sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness and confusion.

I have records of an email conversation about this information being given to AUPE, back in June.

That did not stop AUPE picketers from continuing to use a megaphone for hours, day after day, including police siren and other sound effects, as well as using an air raid siren for 3 days* before the police finally put a stop to it.  This on top of their usual shouting, cultish chanting and singing, and verbal abuse.

[*correction, August 4, 2015: the actual air raid siren was only used on one morning.  Many members, however, reported hearing the air raid siren on other days.  Looking at many days of video around the time period, it appears people were actually hearing sound effects on the megaphone being used.  These were also extremely loud and included noises that imitated emergency vehicle sirens, leading people to believe they were still using the air raid siren.]

Such noise levels are the equivalent of physical assault.  For those living with MS or brain injuries, as some of our members do, the effect is even more violent, traumatic and painful.

An example is this impact statement from one of our SAIL user members, submitted with assistance, on June 15, 2014.

The noise wakes me up in the morning.  I am getting angrier and angrier every day.  That is not who I am at all.  I am getting very dark thoughts.  I do not like that.

Not only did the picketers keep up this auditory assault on Artspace members, they did it with the full knowledge of higher-ups in AUPE.

All of which brings us back to the second accusation made by AUPE lately; that picketers had been "chased with 2x4s."

Right off the bat, that accusation is suspect.  This is not the sort of place where people casually have 2x4s lying around, to begin with.

So I did some digging.  In the process, I found an eye witness to the incident, discovered who was involved (it was a single incident), then got the details.

No surprise to discover; there was no 2x4.

Not only that, but the person involved has a strong limp and, after a fall at work, has been walking with a cane for some time now.  He is physically incapable of chasing anyone, or even walking quickly.

He is also one of our members living with a brain injury.

This member, together with his late wife, who succumbed to MS just last year, is one of Artspace's original members, living here for 24 years now.  He has been a SAIL user for about the last 1 1/2 years, to help him with special socks he has to wear.  He and his late wife were very active in our community, and strong advocates for people with disabilities.  This individual is well known as one of the gentlest and kindest members of Artspace, a great neighbour, and someone who goes out of his way to help others.

So what happened?  How does someone known for his gentleness suddenly become accused of violent action?

It turns out that this incident occurred on one of those days of endless megaphone use by Captain Creeper.  This was causing significant trauma, pain and distress to Artspace members, which the Creeper seemed to quite enjoy inflicting, as can be seen in several videos.

Our neighbour, driven to frustration, knowing the pain this was inflicting on his neighbours, came out with a stick - a 2x2x18 sign-post stick - with the intent to knock away the megaphone.

He never did it, nor, as noted above, did he "chase" anyone with it.

In fact, nothing really happened at all.  Still, he came back some time later to apologize for his behaviour.

AUPE has tried to portray this incident as an attack against the picketers.

In reality, it was an act of defense, of self and of Artspace members, from being harmed by continual auditory assault.