Maritime Union backs students associations campaign

Maritime Union backs students associations campaign against voluntary membership

Maritime Union of New Zealand media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 1 December 2010

The Maritime Union is supporting the Save Our Services campaign by New Zealand students to stop voluntary student membership (VSM) of student associations.

Maritime Union General Secretary Joe Fleetwood says that student associations have served students well.

Heather Roy’s Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill would make life worse for most students if passed.

"It is obvious that the result of the VSM bill will be to reduce the services and advocacy that student associations currently provide to tertiary students, as has been seen in Australia."

Collective strength was important for any group such as students and workers who would otherwise have little influence or say over large institutions.

Poll research carried out shows that the majority of New Zealanders think that students should make the choice about how they operate their student associations.

The fact the Bill was the offspring of the ACT Party was a major concern, says Mr Fleetwood.

"This bill is being pushed by a political party that has no credibility whatsoever, due to their hypocrisy on every issue they supposedly stand for, from perk busting to getting tough on crime." "How ACT consider they have the right to propose major law changes rather than just hide in embarrassment at their past record is beyond belief."

The John Key Government should drop the bill before it went any further.

ENDS