Student Unionism
Monash Uni students and staff are going on strike to protest the government’s plan to make student unionism voluntary.
… Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said voluntary student unionism would jeopardise thousands of jobs and the viability of extra-curricular activities at Australian universities.Is the VC saying that union fees pay the salaries of thousands of workers? If so, therein lies a very good reason to review the whole situation.
Association spokeswoman Danya Bryx said they expected thousands of students to boycott classes this week and join rallies. She said some staff had also cancelled classes all week and others were holding VSU discussion classes instead.It’s all about power, folks – the power to control millions of dollars of student funds. My children have a total of five degrees from UQ and I’m well aware of Student Union fees. No fees…no results…no degree…help Dad…mumble…bitch…moan. And then one child borrowed the Union car to drive home…a Suburu Forester…better than mine at the time but then I wasn’t enjoying the largesse associated with controlling funds unfairly extracted from 20, 000 odd students struggling to get through Uni. Keep yelling, keep striking, makes no matter. Things are changing…move on
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Hello Kevin. I know it is a bit late but your piece on Student Union Fee’s struck a cord with me. I am currently doing my Master’s at QUT and am obliged to pay the fee. For what I am not sure but as you point out no fee, no entry ergo no Master’s. Most of the students in my stream are, shall we say, of the older generation and are completing courses for employment, interest and professional reasons. They are in the main part- time, attend lectures after hours and never avail themselves of the services of the ‘Union’ if they knew what they were. QUT has some 40,000 student’s, many of them distant and part time. Paying a union fee for which they get or obtain no benefit is simply wrong and I fail to see how university administration is able to mount a case for the retention of the fee and maintain the creed of intellectual honesty is beyond me.
Take care,
Kel
You are going to hell!