Media coverage: SAIL picket line upsetting some residents

Artspace members, family and friends, have been trying to reach out to the media to try and get our side of the story told.  You would think this would be a story the media would love to tell - a real David and Goliath story; the union Goliath, with its bottomless pit of funding through union dues, teams of lawyers, negotiators, etc., vs a tiny, volunteer run company, with no income other than the funding AHS provides based on user member needs, serving members with various degrees of mobility challanges.  Bully picketers screaming and yelling at folks in wheelchairs.

Finally, the CBC came back and did an interview with one of our user members.

This is what they came up with.

SAIL picket line upsetting some residents
30 health care aides off the job since May 8

CBC News Posted: Jun 25, 2014 11:16 AM MT Last Updated: Jun 25, 2014 11:16 AM MT

Resident Meghan Sykes says the labour dispute has made her depression come back. (CBC)

Some people who live at Edmonton's Supports for Artspace Independent Living or SAIL say the seven-week labour dispute is hurting them.

SAIL assists about thirty seniors and people with disabilities who live together at the Artspace Co-op at 93rd Street and 101A Avenue, east of downtown Edmonton.

Thirty health care aides represented by Alberta Union of Provincial Employees are locked out and walking a picket line outside the building.

Thirty health care aides represented by AUPE are looking for better pay and benefits. (CBC)

Resident Megan Sykes relies on workers to help her live independently. She says the situation is stressful.

"I have epilepsy, I have depression,” she said. “My depression came back because they are telling ‘Meghan, tell the workers we need more money. Tell them.’”

Replacement workers are now helping the residents. Sykes wishes the strikers would take their picket line elsewhere.

"Why don't they go to Alberta Health and strike?” she said. “They are hurting the innocent here. We have fought for years and years and years to get on our own.”

Follow this the link to read the rest. 

Their TV spot had even less to say.

One Artspace member had this to say about the article.

A decidedly milquetoast article about the strike at our co-op. At least one of my neighbours got a say (though, knowing how these things go, it would be only a tiny bit of what she actually said). They still aren't covering the level of abuse and harassment our neighbours have been subject to since the strike began, while giving the union that last say - including their bullshit claim that they tried to come back to work over any sort of concern over the replacement workers. The replacement workers have been amazing, putting up with some of the worst abuse of all, yet still providing superior care.

And he's talking about being on the picket line for 7 months? What difference will that make? There's no money. The only money we get is from AHS, and that has to pay expenses as well as wages. What magical place to they think the money for their demands is going to come from?

 The media has been dropping the ball.

That's why this blog has been created.