ACT on Campus Welcome Endorsement Of VSM By Lenin
Submitted by Peter McCaffrey on 12 October 2009 - 3:07pmACT on Campus Vice President, Peter McCaffrey, today welcomed the endorsement of Roger Douglas' Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill by Vladimir Lenin, former Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars in the USSR and one of the top 100 most important people of the twentieth century, as named by Time Magazine in 1998.
At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party, Lenin acknowledged the failings of compulsory unionism and proposed a reversion to voluntary membership, stating:
"The formal attitude of the trade unions to the automatic enrolment of all wage-workers as union members has introduced a certain degree of bureaucratic distortion in the trade unions and has caused the latter to lose touch with the broad mass of their membership. Hence, it is necessary most resolutely to implement voluntary enrolment both of individuals and of groups into trade unions."
Lenin further advised that, for unions to be successful:
"Under no circumstances must trade union members be required to subscribe to any specific political views; in this respect, as well as in respect of religion, the trade unions must be non-partisan."
The recommendations were examined by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee which unanimously approved them and submitted them, without amendments, to the Eleventh Party Congress where they were also unanimously passed.
"We congratulate the communist leader on his recognition of the importance of Freedom of Association and are heartened by the growing roll of left-leaning public figures prepared to stand up for students' human rights.", said Peter McCaffrey.
Other 'Lefties for Freedom':
Alex Sorenson
Massey Wellington Students’ Association president Alex Sorenson said that Roger Douglas’ Education (Freedom Of Association) Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, raises important issues of accountability and good faith.
But while Sorenson acknowledged that it was a “touchy” subject for unions, she said the argument for voluntary student membership had some validity.
“One of the arguments is that people are being forced to fund political activities that don’t reflect their own views, and there are some instances of students’ associations in the country who do that.”
Loretta Ryder
Whitireia Polytechnic students association president Loretta Ryder said she agreed with the bill.
"I think a student association is like any other business," said Mrs Ryder. "I believe that if you have a good relationship with your students they will want to part of your association."
Clayton Cosgrove
Former Labour Minister, Clayton Cosgrove, said, "Why should I as a politician tell you or anybody else what you should belong to?....If you want to join the footy club, the workingmen's club, the institute - go for it. It's your choice and you should have that right."
At a meeting of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party, Lenin acknowledged the failings of compulsory unionism and proposed a reversion to voluntary membership, stating:
"The formal attitude of the trade unions to the automatic enrolment of all wage-workers as union members has introduced a certain degree of bureaucratic distortion in the trade unions and has caused the latter to lose touch with the broad mass of their membership. Hence, it is necessary most resolutely to implement voluntary enrolment both of individuals and of groups into trade unions."
Lenin further advised that, for unions to be successful:
"Under no circumstances must trade union members be required to subscribe to any specific political views; in this respect, as well as in respect of religion, the trade unions must be non-partisan."
The recommendations were examined by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee which unanimously approved them and submitted them, without amendments, to the Eleventh Party Congress where they were also unanimously passed.
"We congratulate the communist leader on his recognition of the importance of Freedom of Association and are heartened by the growing roll of left-leaning public figures prepared to stand up for students' human rights.", said Peter McCaffrey.
Other 'Lefties for Freedom':
Alex Sorenson
Massey Wellington Students’ Association president Alex Sorenson said that Roger Douglas’ Education (Freedom Of Association) Amendment Bill, currently before Parliament, raises important issues of accountability and good faith.
But while Sorenson acknowledged that it was a “touchy” subject for unions, she said the argument for voluntary student membership had some validity.
“One of the arguments is that people are being forced to fund political activities that don’t reflect their own views, and there are some instances of students’ associations in the country who do that.”
Loretta Ryder
Whitireia Polytechnic students association president Loretta Ryder said she agreed with the bill.
"I think a student association is like any other business," said Mrs Ryder. "I believe that if you have a good relationship with your students they will want to part of your association."
Clayton Cosgrove
Former Labour Minister, Clayton Cosgrove, said, "Why should I as a politician tell you or anybody else what you should belong to?....If you want to join the footy club, the workingmen's club, the institute - go for it. It's your choice and you should have that right."
December 08th, 2009 at 4:18pm
Just so we're clear, Alex Sorenson does *not* support VSM.
I'm the reporter who wrote the article Peter cites, and I would have thought it was very clear from the context that she does not believe in the bill. What she was saying was that the student unions have not been sufficient concessions made for members to opt-out at will, and that the unions should be pressured to change this.
The full text of the interview is at http://mediadarlings.net/2009/09/13/some-validity-to-vsm-lobby-mawsa-pre..., should anyone be interested.
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