NZPSA supports students

For Immediate Use

NZPSA supports students’ call to vote down voluntary student membership

The New Zealand Public Service Association (NZPSA) supports students in their efforts to draw attention to the perils of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.

Currently students can choose whether membership of their student association is universal or voluntary.

The Bill goes into committee stage in Parliament next week. If passed, it will impose Voluntary Student Membership (VSM) on all students’ associations, dramatically slashing their funds and thus the services and clubs they provide.

More than ninety percent of submitters opposed the Bill during the Select Committee process. The Public Service Association was one of them.

That opposition is shared by the public.

A recent independent nationwide public opinion poll revealed that 77% of respondents felt that students should decide the structure of membership of their associations, compared with just 17% that believed it was the Government’s decision, and 6% who were unsure.

“As we said in our submission, it’s not Parliament’s job to interfere in the activities of independent, incorporated societies like students’ associations,” says NZPSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“The existing legislation is both flexible and inclusive and allows students to decide themselves on whether their association is voluntary or compulsory through transparent democratic referenda.

“If this bill proceeds into law, it could devastate important student services in the areas of welfare, academic advocacy, counselling as well as financial and legal assistance.

“Social events, clubs, sports and recreational facilities – the things that bring a richness to the student experience - could all be lost.

“We urge members of parliament to listen to the public and the majority of those who made submissions to the select committee and vote against this bill,” says Brenda Pilott..

ENDS