Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Schools no place for union recruitment

Nick Smith

National Education Spokesperson

1 October 2000

Schools no place for union recruitment

Union recruitment and promotion in schools is an ominous sign of life under the Employment Relations Act that takes effect today, National Education spokesperson Nick Smith said today.

There are reports of at least twelve secondary schools rearranging school timetables to allow the Council of Trade Unions to give students union education.

"It is bad enough that the Government's new law forces unions into every workplace without having them forced on school pupils. Union education taught by the CTU has no place in our classrooms.

"Using the compulsory state education system to brainwash young minds into supporting the Government's pro-union stance has a nasty small of Stalinism about it," Dr Smith said.

Dr Smith noted that recent opinion polls indicated the majority of New Zealanders did not support the new Employment Relations Act. He compared the Labour Government's support of the CTU going into schools promoting the new Act as wrong as if National had abused its power in Government by encouraging the Employers Federation to tour schools and sell the merits of the Employment Contracts Act during the 1990s. Neither National nor the Employers sought to exploit children in this way then and nor should Labour and the Unions now.

"It is appalling that Youth Union Movement spokesperson Marae Dodd cites strong teacher unions as the reason why it was so easy to get access to schools. Teachers should not allow their professional ethics to be compromised by their own political views. If pupils are to receive education on employment issues and outside speakers are needed, equal time should be given to the CTU and the Employers Federation.

"The Labour-Alliance Government relies on its union affiliates for membership and campaign funds. Allowing union recruitment in schools is blatant political manipulation of our state education system and should be banned," Dr Smith said.

Ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.