Varsity Strikes – Students Need To Vote For Action

3 March 2002

“The Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (ATSA) is disappointed at any calls for students to admonish staff for today’s university strike actions,” stated National Student President Julie Pettett.

“It is clear that institutions are under-funded. If we are to remain a first world country, then institutions must be funded at a level that allows them to pay staff competitive rates. This isn’t currently happening. Students pay a lot of money for a tertiary education and they have the right to be taught by good staff,” said Pettett.

“Labour appears to be supporting the continual under-funding of tertiary education. This strike is just one of the negative impacts that under-funding is having on New Zealand,” stated Pettett.

Averted strike action at some universities does not change the fact that there are significant funding problems within the tertiary sector.

“This is an election year and it is time for action. ATSA will be strongly encouraging students to vote for the party that will fund tertiary education properly,” stated Pettett.

“Does Labour want to be that party? If they do, I suggest they think long and hard about producing a 23rd of May budget that funds tertiary education properly,” said Pettett.

Students will need to consider that budget and bear it in mind come the election.

For further comment, contact:
Julie Pettett
ATSA National President
Office 04 939 1417 Cellphone 029 939 1417

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