A Message to the Picketers

This message is aimed at all the AUPE picketers outside Artspace, not just the striking SAIL employees, since there are so very few employees out there.

It has now been 6 months since the strike began. 

As I listen to your "celebrations" outside our home, hear you verbally abuse some of our members and gossip about others behind their backs while lounging under our balconies, so many thoughts and questions come to mind.

Like so many others, I wonder why you are here.  Oh, yes, I see your signs, but they don't answer the question at all.  Yes, I hear you yelling your accusations about SAIL, but I have asked the questions and gotten the answers.  Your accusations sound increasingly desperate in attempting to slander SAIL to justify your presence.

I wonder if any of you, sitting in your camp chairs, obsessing with your phones and gossiping, have grasped the magnitude of just how much damage you have done.

No, I don't mean the damage you've done to our Artspace members.  We can tell, by your contemptuous laughter, that you don't care that you have caused people to be hospitalized.  In fact, you seem quite proud of it.

No.  I mean the damage you have done to yourselves.

Do you truly not understand this?

The first error was made from the beginning.  Normally, strikers picket offices, factories or storefronts; the physical location of their employer.  But you never did that.  No.  As bad as it would have been to target a non-profit, volunteer run company, that is not what you did.

Instead, you went after the very people it was your job to care for, and everyone around them.  To draw a comparison, it's as if you worked at a furnace cleaning company and, when on strike, decided to picket the homes of customers whose furnaces you'd cleaned - plus their next door neighbors, plus everyone else on the block, plus anyone who visited their homes, most of whom have never done business with your employer - rather than the company itself.  It's completely illogical and counterproductive.  How did you ever think that this would get you any support?

That, however, is not the worst of it.

The worst of it was how you chose to behave on the picket line.

You chose to not only picket the homes of people you knew had no control over funding, but you chose to do it in a most regressive and vile manner.  It was not enough for you to come out and walk around with signs.  No.  You chose to harass, yell, insult, swear and threaten people.  Even now, do you think we can't hear you as you laugh at us?  As you talk about us with such anger, hatred and contempt?  You're right in front of our homes.  You're right under our balconies.  You're right outside our windows.  We can hear you.  We can see you. 

For so long, you have tried to make this about dignity and respect, but your behavior has shown this to be a lie. 

It's about money.  That much is obvious.  If it were really about dignity and respect, you would have behaved in a dignified and respectful manner.

I ask you this.  After all this time, have you not yet realized that you have wasted 6 months of your lives?  No; not just wasted.  It's 6 months of your own actions damaging your own selves.

Have you not realized that no amount of money will win back what you've lost by doing what you've done?

No amount of money will regain you the integrity you lost by going after some of the most vulnerable people, in their own homes.

No amount of money will give you the respect you lost when you chose to go after the people you used to provide care for.  Their friends.  Their family.  Their neighbors.

No amount of money will repair the damage you have done to your own reputations, through your behaviour outside our homes.

You have also damaged the reputation of every AUPE member, because what you have done has been done in the name of your union.

You have also damaged the reputation of all other unions, because what you have done have become representative of all picketer behavior.

You can try and shift the blame to somewhere else all you want, but the only ones responsible for this damage is yourselves.  You can try and convince yourself that this is all part of some noble cause, but your own actions have shown the opposite.  There is nothing noble about anything you have done outside our homes. 

There is nothing you can accomplish by being here.  There never was.  You've gone after the wrong people and, in the process, destroyed any positive thing you could have gained, had you only chosen to at least behave in a dignified and humane manner. 

Every time you come out here, you serve only to destroy your own reputation, that much more. Every time you come out here, more of your personal integrity is lost.  Every time you come out here, the more you reflect negatively on the reputation of your fellow union members.  Every time you come out here, you serve only to cause more harm to yourselves.

Have you not yet figured that out? 

Is the money worth it?

Another hospitalization

On this blog, we have written many times about the effects AUPE's actions against our members is having on people's health.

This is not about the labour dispute.

This is about the behaviour AUPE chose to encourage, condone and engage in while picketing our home.

Not the place of employment.

Our home.

Since they read this blog, we know they have read about members who've had to increase their pain medications and other prescriptions, due to the stress and anxiety they are causing.

We've talked about the damage caused by their using noise as a weapon.

They even know that a member has been hospitalized, twice, and had to leave his own home on doctor's orders, due to the disturbances the picketers are causing.

Now, they've done it again.

On Thursday the 16th; the first day of AUPE's convention, and the first day their activities here escalated, with increased noise and overall disturbances, another of our members had to go to the hospital.

This person has given permission to mention this, but out of respect for this person's privacy and medical condition, no details can be given.  The only thing that can be said is that this is the result of AUPE picketer behaviour triggering a medical event.  We have no idea how long this person will have to be hospitalized.

This sort of behaviour is disruptive enough at the best of times, but what is different here is that AUPE has chosen to target our private homes.  They have chosen to target a community.

We are not a factory or an office building.  We are not some remote place that people go to to work, then leave at the end of the day.

This is where we live.

The picketers come here, sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for most of the day, and then they get to go home.

We don't have that option, because this IS our home.

We live here.

This is our home, and what AUPE is doing is right outside our doors and windows.

There is no escaping it, because even when there are no picketers, there is still their presence, just in the constant presence of their vehicle.  Plus, we can never be sure just when they will show up, how many or how long.

Like all communities, we have people from a wide variety of backgrounds and histories.

Everyone has their story.  Everyone has their things to deal with.

We have our user-members, who need some outside help that gives them the ability to lead independent lives, on their own terms, in their own homes.

We have non-user members who also live with disabilities of varying kinds and degrees, but don't need outside help just yet, or have self-managed care instead of SAIL's services.

We have people with invisible disabilities, or no physical disabilities at all, but still have issues to
deal with.

We all have our stories.  We all have our histories.

Some of us are abuse survivors.  For some, we have lived with physical abuse.  Others, psychological abuse.  Still others have lived with both.

So when we see what is happening outside our home, we recognize it for what it is.

Abuse.

Abuse of our members and our community.

We've written about the broken plate analogy before.

Everyone has their broken plate.

For some of us, it's just a few hairline cracks.

For others, our plates have been cracked and broken, but we have managed to glue the pieces together and keep on going.

Some have had their plates shattered, and are still trying to find all the pieces, are mixing the epoxy, and slowly putting the pieces back together.

There is no shame in scars or wounds.  They are part of who we are.  They make us stronger.  They show we are survivors.

Whatever stage we are at, what AUPE has been doing is coming to our homes - what should be our places of safety; our sanctuaries - and taking a hammer to all our plates.

To those of you from the convention that are visiting this page for the first time, let me ask you;

Have the upper levels of AUPE  told you that they are picketing private homes?

Have they told you that they have targeted a community?

Have they told you that, while they mouth platitudes about "rights" and "dignity" and "respect," they are causing real, physical, medical harm to the people who live here?

That they are denying people the right to live in peace, in their own homes?

That they are engaging in harassment and misconduct against an entire neighbourhood?

That your executives have been here to not only support, but even participate in, actions that are causing harm to people?

AUPE can blather on all they want about how it's all about getting a "fair contract" and "benefits".

We who live here know better.

It's about greed.

It's about money.

It's about privileges.

It's about power and control and entitlements.

For AUPE.

Not even for the SAIL staff.  They're just pawns.  If AUPE succeeds in destroying SAIL - which increasingly seems to be their real goal - either by forcing them to accept demands they can't afford and going into bankruptcy, or through frivolous complaints to the labour board (though they did withdraw one of the complaints, it was done at the last minute, which means it still cost SAIL money in legal fees to prepare), to the point that legal fees alone will force SAIL into bankruptcy, those staff will all lose their jobs.

The powers that be in AUPE don't seem to care.  That much is obvious to everyone, except maybe the SAIL staff themselves (though they were warned the end result might be the loss of their jobs, before they voted to strike), and any other True Believers.

To those members of AUPE who are just learning about all this now; think on this.

What AUPE is doing to the Artspace community is causing real harm, and has now put another person in the hospital.

What the picketers here are doing is also causing harm to you; even if you've never been here and never heard of what's been going on.

Because what they are doing here reflects back on you, as well.

AUPE is claiming that this blog is all part of some sort of vast misinformation campaign.

See for yourself.

Decide for yourself.

Then ask yourself; is this what you are?  Is this how you want to be seen?

Because what is being done here is reflecting back on you.

This is being done in your name, too.

The only people hurting AUPE in this are the AUPE members coming here to Artspace, picketing our homes and targeting our community.

What will it take for AUPE to finally acknowledge the mistake they've made?  Will someone have to die, first?  Or would that just be twisted around and blame cast somewhere else, too?

Make no mistake about it; there is only one place responsibility for this damage can be attributed to.

AUPE.

You.

Not just the executives who made the decisions.

You.

Not just the picketers who have so gleefully engaged in this behaviour.

You.

The responsibility also lies in every AUPE member who sees what's happening here and says nothing.

Does nothing.

We know that there are AUPE members who condemn what's being done here in their name.  We also know that many of you are too afraid to speak out.

Yet, as long as you continue to be afraid and refuse to speak out against what is happening here, you too are responsible for the harm that's being caused.

Another of our members is in the hospital.  One of the strongest people I know; with the kindest heart and an amazing intellect.  Thoughtful.  Supportive.  Loyal.  Dedicated.

Because of you.

Can you live with that?

Autumn at Artspace

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

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

Yup.

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

I hear union members yelling in the morning. 

I see them in the afternoon. 

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

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

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

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

A home for 87 families. 

Our home.

Was it made clear that we are not a facility? 

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

This is our home.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So don’t do it. 

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

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

An Open Letter to SAIL Workers

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LOCKED OUT SAIL WORKERS
This letter is re-posted in the hope that the locked out workers will read it and begin to THINK FOR THEMSELVES!

The first thing I want to say is that I value the work that all healthcare workers provide. Without assistance, there are many who live in Artspace Co-op who would have to be in some sort of long-term care facility. So thank you for the work you do.

The second thing I want to say is I believe all healthcare workers should be paid much more and have benefits and retirement plans in place. The reality, however, is far from what we all would like it to be.

When you all walked off the job on May 7, 2014, your union sent letters to EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD in this Co-op. In it they “encouraged” us to ask the “hard” questions of the SAIL Board as to where they had the money to pay replacement staff and hire security; why there were 7 years’ worth of missing audits, and why couldn’t they pay SAIL staff more than $19.50/hr. Basically, they were asking us to
THINK FOR OURSELVES! So I did ask those question, and I received more than satisfactory answers. I
won’t be sharing those answers with you because I think YOU should be thinking for yourselves, also. (And by the way, I asked the same questions more than once and the answers were always the same.)

I also went farther than the union suggested and I did some of my own research into the differences/similarities of healthcare aides who work in clients’ homes versus SAIL workers working in a single apartment building as you were. In general, what I found was that your wage of $19.50/hr was the highest wage I could find among any of the healthcare workers doing anywhere near the type of work and workload as you. In fact, the average was around $15/hr, and those workers have a heavier workload with very little “down time”. In fact, if they had any down time, it was spent driving from one client’s home to the next, IN their own vehicles, with little to no compensation for gas or wear and tear on their vehicles.

I couldn’t find anything about benefits, but I know the Board (and myself) all agree that you should have them. After all, there’s always a chance of injury, even in an 8 hour shift with 4 to 5 hours of scheduled care, although some of that care is homemaking, laundry, feeding a client and meal preparation—a far cry from what one worker complained as "a lot of transferring and heavy lifting aaaalll day long."

Believe or not, I’ve tried really hard to understand your position, but I just can’t get it! How many people would love to have a position in which they work 4 to 5 hours of scheduled care time and have 3 to 4 hours of down time where they are paid to be “on call”? I think you had a good thing going, but now you have blown it.

Now you are choosing to believe whatever your union tells you, but I don’t believe for one second that they are concerned for your welfare. I’ll probably say this more than once: You need to start THINKING FOR YOURSELVES instead of letting the union do it for you. Ask them all the hard questions. Questions like:

1. Why did the mediator look at only unionized collective agreements when making his recommendations—agreements that look only at healthcare workers who work in institutions and are run off their feet their entire shift? Naturally, they should be paid more. Why didn’t the mediator look at other private homecare providers who have similar job descriptions as yours?

2. “Hey hey! Ho ho! Where did all the money go?” Why does the union refuse to accept SAIL’s financials that are transparent and signed off by a certified accountant. Why did the union negotiator dismiss the financial statement without even looking at it? Why didn’t you, the workers, meet with the SAIL Board and let them explain it to you? I know they wanted to. Could it be that the union doesn’t want you to know the truth?

3. How are they looking out for you when, if SAIL is forced to pay you more than Alberta Health gives them, this small not-for profit company will go bankrupt and there will be NO JOB for you to come to?

4. How are they looking out for you when they suggest to the SAIL Board to pay you top dollar for the scheduled care hours and minimum wage for the rest? By the way, the Board was too decent to even seriously consider this.

5. How is the union looking out for you when it’s willing to sacrifice your job and the SAIL Homecare model just so they can save face? Those are just some of the questions I think you should be asking the union. Maybe you have some yourselves, unless you’re not willing to think for yourselves.

I want to put aside wages, benefits, etc. for a moment and talk about BEHAVIOUR!

Do you really think your actions on the picket line are acceptable? I can’t begin to express how deeply disappointed I am to know that about a third of the workers are either participating in or condoning the abusive behaviour we have been forced to endure for the last 3 months. Do you think all your yelling, name calling and vehicle blockading will get you anywhere? When was the last time you saw a school yard bully get what he wanted by beating up on others? For people to claim that we have human rights because of the union, it’s beyond me as to why they can’t respect MY right to a safe and quiet neighbourhood.

And speaking of rights: I have the right to decide who I allow into my PRIVATE home, as do other User-
Members of SAIL. You can be sure that, I personally, will not be allowing any of the workers who have been on the picket line back in my home. Whatever trust and respect I once had for you is GONE!

You say you want to come back because you care for your clients. If you truly care for us, the best thing
you could do is quit SAIL and find work elsewhere. The longer this dispute continues the greater the risk
that “your clients” will lose their self-directed, independent model of homecare for which they fought so hard to get to begin with. (And there are more employment opportunities out there for you than there are in-house consumer driven models of homecare for us.)

Sincerely,
A Proud SAIL User-Member

Another open letter to all the picketers – especially the parents

Children

From the beginning of this union unrest, the strikers had their plan for their activities as if we were in a business area. Foul language, bullying, accusations, yelling, noise, and stating horrible things. In a normal strike, businesses are picketed in front of, and people could choose to go to that business or not. Parents with children could avoid the area.

You are not in a business area.

You are at our home.

We are not a seniors’ complex; there generally aren't kids there – usually only as visitor for a short period and then they go home. Or the parents choose not to bring them on their visits.

We are not an assisted living facility. Again, you don’t see much kids around.

This is our home. We have seniors, people with disabilities, people without disabilities and guess what? WE HAVE KIDS HERE. We have families here. At several points we have had up to four generations of a family here. An intentional community. And we choose to have children here.

But you continue to picket with your awful bag of union tactics. As adults we don’t understand why you are so abusive, yell, bully, insult, taunt… So if as adults we can’t make sense of the abuse, what about the kids? And our children can’t choose to go somewhere else.

And kids are watching.

Our kids.

Our neighbours' kids.

Our kids were also approached to be given AUPE literature and lured to the AUPE van by the promise of ice cream. So our parents pulled their children inside. We encouraged them to play outside when the strikers were gone. But during your 10:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. break – you really weren't gone. We know one person was left back in a car with tinted windows to continue to document and this made our kids feel creepy. So this summer for our kids hasn't been a very good one. Great summer weather but intimidation always looming.

Children.

On the picket line.

Participating on the picket line.

Surrounding a vehicle while at the back of the vehicle (you remember where the exhaust comes out?) a parent holds the hands of two preschool children to participate in surrounding and detaining the car. They don’t have a choice in being there or not.

I called Child Abuse Hot-line. They said it is not abuse. I spoke with a police officer who said parents can choose to have their children involved on picket lines, demonstrations, rallies and so forth. The police will not intervene to protect your children. No one will. We tried. 

So if you bring your child(ren) to the picket line, in an environment that seems to be getting more and more hostile, we cannot in any way ensure that your children are safe. They are witnessing foul language, bullying, accusations, yelling, and hearing horrible things said about other people.

Parents: you are responsible for keeping your kids safe. 

You chose to bring them on the picket line. 

You will be held responsible for their actions (such damaging Co-op property – especially when you encourage them to do so – such as picking flowers from our garden/causing damage.) 

You are choosing to bring children to the picket line – knowing full well of the risks. 

You are responsible if they fall down and get hurt. 

You are responsible for them hearing and seeing what happens on a picket line – the good, the bad, the ugly. 

You are responsible for any psychological damage due to what your children see and hear and are forced to  participate in. 

You are responsible if they have hearing loss, stress, misbehaviour at home and so forth. Consequences of your actions as parents.

Your choice.

A video message to viewers and AUPE

There were a few interruptions as they made this video.  Notes added to describe some of what's going on off frame.

Targeted harassment

The following post is written on behalf of one of our members who is okay with having her name published.

Elizabeth lives in the Artspace high rise, and has individual managed care.  Her balcony also happens to be right in the heart of AUPE picketer activity, so there is no escape for her from their noise and disruption.

She has also been targeted, as has her care provider.  They can't go onto her balcony without being being harassed or assaulted verbally.  The only way to avoid it is to remain hostages in her unit, until the picketers leave.

Recently, Elizabeth had a new banner hung on her balcony, with a message for AUPE.  Her banner message reads: AUPE - GTFO.

On July 9, she posted this online:

It had to happen sooner or later; I went out side for some fresh air. When this AUPE women starts going off on Me. "Elizabeth you should be ashamed of yourself, putting up such a disgraceful sign!"

Let's think about this for a moment.

One of our members, who can't even go out unto her own balcony without being harassed by AUPE picketers, expresses her frustrations in a message on a banner, and an AUPE picketer says that SHE should be ashamed?  

No.  Elizabeth is not the one who should be ashamed.  Those who have invaded our homes and harassed us to the point that people aren't safe coming out on their own balconies are the ones who should be ashamed.

In typical Artspace humour, she quickly had several comments

GTFO=God Teaches Forgiveness Only.  Do they not know you're a nun?

And:

Do they know the acronym of GTFO is God Thanks Friday is Over  That's my version. And Elizabeth's version is Gimps Take Further Options. Or do they even know the word "ACRONYM?

What is unfortunate is that Elizabeth felt this way:

I'm just waiting for them to leave for the day, and then I'll ask Yolanda to put it up.. Don't want her to get harassed again.     

Elizabeth, at least, has compassion - unlike the AUPE picketers.

That wasn't all that was said, however.  Elizabeth then shared this:

..., when I tried to talk she said, "come on, we like it you get mad!"[so I kept quiet]. Then she was yelling "somebody should call the Bylaw and report Artspace: it's an EYE SORE!"

So who was this picketer, who taunted a non-verbal person by saying "come on, we like it [when] you get mad"?  Then tried their usual by-law threats?  

She was identified as someone familiar to many at Artspace.  Here is an example:

You can start seeing her at around 0:14, and hearing her at about 0:20, though what she's saying can't be made out clearly for more than a few words until about 0:43, where she starts saying, "you think you're above them? ... BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH!! ... You think you're above them? You're not above them.  You don't deserve to have these good workers."  And so on.

This is the person who thinks Elizabeth is the one who should be ashamed.

How does someone like this even look at themselves in the mirror, and not be horrified by what they have become?

Her comments remind me of one of the other signs on Artspace.

Artspace members do deserve better.

And AUPE needs to GTFO.

They can decide for themselves what the acronym stands for.

Messages to AUPE

On May 25th, Artspace held a mock funeral as a demonstration, and to send a message to AUPE.  Artspace members, friends and supporters were invited to write brief messages, which were placed into a casket and delivered to the AUPE's office on May 29.

When the casket was delivered, they were told (to paraphrase), "if you taunt a dog, it will bite." ... and that they should have made an appointment, first.

Here are just a few of the messages that were left in the casket.  (Note: some of these were written with assistance.  Most were anonymous; of the few that had names, they have been left off here for their protection.)

AUPE:
There is something very wrong when people’s needs, care and self respect is not the FIRST PRIORITY.
I support unionization and the welfare of workers – but not at the cost of care of other human beings.
Find your hearts & see the bigger picture where everyone can be cared for.

AUPE’s actions have been those bullies use. The poem the union brought and read was despicable. This is not a normal situation. Much awareness is required..this is not an institution. Disabled individuals are under extreme duress, stress, and unwarranted health risks.

Shame on you all. No need for verbal abuse, very degrading for a union as a whole.

There is something wrong when people facing so many challenges are required to take on the AUPE. Where’s the compassion?

I supported the thinking of the AUPE in its recent disputes with the GOA but not here. Now AUPE is the bully. Perhaps the AUPE will see the light and do what’s right, just as the GOA did under Premier Hancock.

I don’t understand why AUPE started or is continuing this action. But I don’t think there is any good reason to continue.

Stop, step back, and try another way.

AUPE – shame on you. Yes, workers have rights but the people of SAIL have their rights too that trump “union”.
The right to human dignity and independence are far more important.
AUPE – BACK OFF!!

I have the right to maintain my independence and self autonomy. No one has the right to devalue me or my ability to contribute to my community.

AUPE: respect is earned not owed. Once lost, hard to regain.
AUPE has lost any respect we once had for SAIL staff.

To AUPE
Your rude and degrading behaviours is disgusting. This is OUR PRIVATE HOMES and you are unwelcome here. 

You say you care about the people here, but your lies and actions prove otherwise.
We demand RESPECT and PEACE to live in our homes.

The greedy, overpaid people you represent also don’t care about the people they work with. You’ve taught them to lie and degrade. We want PEACE and RESPECT.

I want control of my life which you are threatening. I am a mother first a neighbour, not commodity with a price attached.

You are everything we teach our children NOT to be!!

Please show your good intentions by leaving a private home alone!

Quit harming defenceless people for monetary gains. Your actions do not benefit anyone, other than the bank accounts of the already disgustingly wealthy!!

Without Artspace people, SAIL workers would have no jobs!

Communication is always the key to any relationship. Can you consider a more productive means of communication?
The poem read out about “scabs” was disgusting. Who has taught someone to impede being helpful?
Union rights can be negotiated, being respectful should be automatic. Can this be something that is communicated to the picketers?
I am hopeful that AUPE will be very open to a peaceful answer. How can labour laws trump human rights?

To AUPE
Why are you doing this? I do not understand the tactics you are using to intimidate and bully the most vulnerable of us.
You are lying about the fact that the caregivers were not on the picket line.
I was, up until now, a strong union supporter but your behaviours has been despicable, disgusting and reprehensible.
Please stop this now.

Inhumane
What you are doing to those who live at Artspace is just that. For somebody with a disability, there is nothing more valuable than independence. You, AUPE, are taking that away from them.

Members of AUPE
In general I have been a supporter of labor rights over many decades but I DO NOT support AUPE in what you are doing with SAIL. If you could only really understand the lives needs, and aspirations of those needing the services of SAIL. I believe you would abandon this approach you are using . You have become BULLYS. Please withdraw this picket immediately and wait until August 2014 when SAIL will have renegotiated their contract with Alberta Health Services.
Thank you, Sincerely

To the largest union in Alberta:
We call upon your compassion;

We call upon your empathy’
We call upon your sense of justice;
To know your privilege, you are able-bodies & capable of changing this situation, this attack against people with disabilities – the most vulnerable citizens in our society.
This is not about money, management, this is about people, real people, who need compassion, empathy – who would work with you to keep their independence, their freedom.

To: AUPE
I’m shocked and appalled to learn how the residents of Artspace have been bullied by your workers. The resources and money is available to assist those who need it so the fact that there is any issue at all is ridiculous. The residents of Artspace shouldn’t have to suffer because of your reluctance to negotiate the terms of this strike. Get it together.

I am a nurse and I was very involved with UNA and 3 strikes. I, obviously, am very pro-union – But the way that AUPE is handling the situation with S.A.I.L. is, quite simply, appalling. I am ashamed of being an union supporter under these circumstances.

The workers seem to feel entitled to the raise they want. They feel entitled to being paid what care aids in hospitals get paid. What they fail to understand is that the workers at SAIL have fewer responsibilities and their level of care has dropped in the last few years!! But my experience is that those who complained, were rushed through my services and level of care dropped. And these are the people that want to be paid more!!
I deserve:
The right to direct my care any way I chose, not what is convenient to the caregiver,
I deserve not to be heckled outside my home!
I deserve to be treated with dignity
I deserve to keep my independence
I deserve to have home care on my schedule!
This isn’t a fight for higher wages, this is a fight for independence! And the right to live!!

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.

Artspace Humour and a message to strikers

With all that's been going on with the picketers invading our homes, (remember; Artspace is made up of private homes that happens to have an in-house care company.  The strikers have never picketed SAIL, only Artspace) having a sense of humour is important.

The picketers try to sing now and again.  Not very well.  Not everyone can be a virtuoso, but the caterwauling is just another part of the noise pollution we have to put up with, like this morning, with chanting, attempts to sing and howling along with passing sirens.  One member described them as sounding like a bunch of drunks, saying if he hadn't known it was the picketers, that's what he would have been phoning the police over.

All before 10am.

Oh, and they brought children to the picket line again,

They are also back to camping out under the tree on private property, preventing people from using the set of stairs next to them, as they verbally abuse anyone who walks by.  

One of the songs they try to sing is "solidarity" to the tune of Glory Glory Hallelujah. One of our SAIL user members, with a great sense of humour, wrote this song in response, to the same tune.



Lyrics:
Go somewhere and find, and find another job.
Go somewhere and find, and find another job.
Go somewhere and find, and find another job
'cause SAIL users doesn't want you anymore more.
(repeat)

The irony of this is that many of the striking SAIL employees HAVE found other jobs - working the picket line brings in some extra, tax free cash. 

Striking SAIL employees would rather work for SAIL, though, because the job is so much easier than anything else they qualify for.  With so much unscheduled down time, they can sleep, cook meals for their families to bring home (the office is a converted apartment unit, with a full kitchen), all while getting paid almost $20 an hour.

After their behaviour on the picket line, though, user members don't want them back. They now know these people can't be trusted, and fear for their safety if they ever tried to come back to the job.

As this user member says, go find another job, because SAIL users don't want you anymore.

(Don't forget to visit the Artspace Under Siege YouTube Channel for video and audio of what Artspace members, and our neighbours, have had to endure.)

A Letter to AUPE

We have been asked to post this letter to AUPE.  Perhaps with letters and messages like these being made publicly, AUPE will finally be forced to acknowledge them, and take responsibility for their picketer's behaviour.

Grotesque and Shameful Behavior

And we wonder why there is so much bullying in schools! What is actually more disgusting is that AUPE not only condones this behavior but promotes and facilitates it.

My son has MS and resides in Artspace. Without fail, every time I go to visit him I become ridden with anxiety. “I hope they aren’t there......I hope they aren’t there” is the mantra I chant as I approach. The moment you do approach they start to harass, heckle and insult you. When their attempts appear to fall on deaf ears (which really isn’t the case, I hear every word because they are yelling at me), they yell threats such as “wait till you try to back out of your parking stall!!” All of which are school yard bullying tactics! We have a zero tolerance in schools, why is not being enforced here?

I am gob smacked that in today’s society, this is allowed, encouraged, facilitated, promoted and ignored.  We turn our heads and pretend it’s not happening. Really, this is how we behave? It’s down right disgusting. I am embarrassed and ashamed of these people that masquerade as genuinely caring citizens.

I can only tolerate short visits with my son. We sit in his apartment with doors and windows closed. If we step out on the balcony you are peppered with more verbal abuse. The constant bullying is stressful and I don’t know how the residents have lasted this long. It is nothing short of torture!!

Signed

A Concerned Mom

A Message to AUPE from an Artspace member

One of our members has offered this message to AUPE.

A reminder to AUPE

You are fighting for workers rights.

We are fighting for “human rights” on behalf of the millions of men and women who died in two world wars and continue to fight globally to protect the human rights of all persons on the face of this earth. No persona living or deceased is garbage….a word your striking member use frequently.

Onward and upward, we might bend… but we will not break….

Audio response to AUPE picketing

After having to endure going through the picket lines, this member decided to record her thoughts and feelings.

The damage this strike is doing to our neighbourhood, and to us as individuals, is palpable in this message.

A user member's message

This use member touches on some important points. (submitted May 26)

I don't get a lot of service from SAIL, but the ones I get are important to my continued health and well being.  Finally, with the replacement staff, they are rubbing the cream into my feet the way it is needed and I actually get to bed without my feet cramping.  They are caring, considerate and have a real understanding how important foot care is to a diabetic.  A year ago, we fought the government to save not only the SAIL program, but the jobs of the workers, because we appreciated what their care means to our lives.

We now have to hear the rude, nasty and mean derogatory remarks from the picketers and the lies about how they are underpaid, etc.  They are some of the highest paid "home care aids" in the entire city!

We have you the sun, and now you want the moon and starts too, and we simply don't have it to give you.

How do you rebuild trust and respect after it is being so badly abused?  I am not sure I will ever feel safe having them in my home again after the comments, etc.

This member goes on to describe specifics of the type of "service" provided by some of our striking care workers, including one that created an unsafe situation that later caused the member to fall.

This touches on a point that many user members didn't even realise until the strike started and their care needs were being met by replacement workers.

Our Health Care Aids weren't very good at their jobs.

I, personally, do not use SAIL, so I can only go by what I have heard from user members, and what I'm being told is that they are now receiving a high level of care they have never experienced before.  Until now, they did not know the care provided by the striking staff was inferior.

They are now aware of a standard of care that the striking staff simply had not been able - or willing - to give.