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Students to protest compulsory union membership

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Sat, 13 Aug 2011 4:28a.m.

University students will protest VSM

University students will protest VSM

Students will gather outside the National Party conference in Wellington today to call for an alternative to compulsory student union membership.

The protest is expected to take place outside the Wellington Town Hall from 12.30pm, and will feature guest speakers and leaflet distribution to conference attendees.

 New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA) co-President David Do says the gathering will be positive, and aim to “the National Party to put forward an alternative so that students' associations can continue the valuable services they provide to students everyday”.

NZUSA Co-President Max Hardy says students’ associations are vitally important in ensuring students get a fair deal, and the National party should be looking at ways to “strengthen and grow” associations.

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Comments

23 Aug 2011 10:50p.m.

Andrew wrote:

Ben, the reasoning is straightforward enough. It takes money out of the equation. The choice left is basically down to whether to belong (and be entitled to the benefits that might accrue by virtue of membership) or not to belong.

21 Aug 2011 06:42p.m.

ben wrote:

Andrew - I'm not a student and so don't pay any fees, and strongly support a move to VSM on any number of grounds. Your idea to donating to charity (by the way: why?) has already been done. At Victoria, the student union did allow students to opt out by donating to charity, but, as you'd expect, the union set up their own charity that spend money on things they already supported, and required students to donate to their charity! Requiring unions convince students to support them, rather than force them to, is what will produce better service.

16 Aug 2011 09:54p.m.

Andrew wrote:

James, I detect apathy and inertia here. Did you ever give voice to your thoughts as to what alternative services your association might provide to make it more relevant? I believe most objections to compulsory membership are based not on firm philosophical grounds but on a wish to avoid membership fees. Fine. If you wish to opt out you should be free to do so, but you should be required to pay the equivalent to a nominated charity.

13 Aug 2011 11:49a.m.

James J.Read wrote:

Why are student union leaders worried about membership becoming voluntary? If David Do is correct the problem is purely hypothetical. If students get " valuable services " from their union, almost all will want to be members. It is precisely because most of us don't agree that the bulk of subscriptions is spent on useful services, that we support the preposed law change.