HAY GUYS! The Unions are sick of small crowds (1 Viewer)

[neo o]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National...d-as-rentacrowd/2005/04/25/1114281508427.html

-------------------------------------------

The University of NSW student guild has offered cash bonuses to encourage a large turnout at a nationwide protest against voluntary student unionism on Thursday, in an incentive scheme the Government has described as "rent-a-crowd".

The guild, which acts as a representative council for students, has offered $600 cash for the campus club which brings the most members to Thursday's rally, $500 to the most creatively dressed and $50 worth of photocopying to those bringing a group of at least 15.

The national rally has been called to protest against legislation expected to pass the Senate after June which gives students the choice of whether or not to join campus unions.

A spokesman for the federal Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, said yesterday, "The average, normal students whose compulsorily collected fees are paying for this sort of rent-a-crowd have probably had enough.

"This is a perfect example of how they continue to be forced to pay for activities that they may not need or want."

The University of NSW guild president, Manoj Dias-Abey, said the prizemoney served an educative role. "The aim of the campaign out at UNSW is to try and get a lot of the clubs on board, and try and explain to them the ramifications of VSU [voluntary student unionism]," Mr Dias-Abey said.

"The student guild gives about $200,000 to clubs per year, and the money's just coming from that pool … it's not additional funding."

The compulsory union fees at the university total more than $500 a year for full-time students, and cover membership of the sports association, the retail and services union and the guild.

The federal Labor MP Peter Garrett and the federal Greens senator Kerry Nettle will speak at Thursday's rally.

-------------------------------------------

Protests can be fun! Discuss.

 

[leetom]

Bringing all the campus clubs together and then telling them as a whole that without USU there won't be any more campus clubs is sort of clever. Concentrating anti-VSU opinion into a small area will give the USU cause some cred. Also, it will give the uninformed the chance to realise that USU might, in fact, actually be beneficial for them.

 

[MoonlightSonata]

Haha "rent-a-crowd"

It's so true - there goes more of the cash which students are forced to provide, to protest against something they don't necessarily agree with

 

[iamsickofyear12]

Haha "rent-a-crowd"

It's so true - there goes more of the cash which students are forced to provide, to protest against something they don't necessarily agree with

The unions main argument is that they use the money we pay to benefit us through free and subsidised stuff. But what they are doing here is using my money to benefit themselves. Basically they are proving what people thought all along, that they use our money for something different.

I think it's funny though that they are protesting, cause it's not going to change anything. They need to be focusing their attention on marketing, because if they are as good as they say they are then people will continue to pay.

 

[transcendent]

I don't see the point in fighting a losing battle. Pointless.

 

[Iron]

It seems like a half-baked idea to fight fire with fire (offering students their own money). Ah well. And so it goes.

 

[Rafy]

*hates unions

Have the stuff they do is a bloody waste of time
I myself would love to see the end of compulsary student unions.


And another thing, heard that some union was going to picket Sir Joh's funeral in Queensland. I mean come on, he's dead! show a bit of damn respect

 

[tattoodguy]

get, the macquaire field rioters and redfern riots to join in toooo.


that would get their attention.

 

[migsy2202]

It will just be another pointless student protest that in all likelihood, will be more detrimental to the Unions reputation and achieve minimal positives. It will attract students, as previously mentioned, who may not necessarily agree with the protests reasoning and go along merely to create public disorder and and incite media response. The fact is VSU will pass through parliament, and like it or not, there is not much that anyone can actually do....

 

[Slidey]

It looks like USU is on its last legs.

 

[neo o]

And another thing, heard that some union was going to picket Sir Joh's funeral in Queensland. I mean come on, he's dead! show a bit of damn respect

The union doesn't support it. Also, this goes without saying but there's a difference between student unions and unions.

 

[Xayma]

The union doesn't support it. Also, this goes without saying but there's a difference between student unions and unions.

For example one are actually considered unions by other unions and are voluntary

 

[Not-That-Bright]

These socialists don't understand the concept of the market.
They should be adapting, changing themselves to become a viable entity.

 

[im an idiot]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National...d-as-rentacrowd/2005/04/25/1114281508427.html

-------------------------------------------

The University of NSW student guild has offered cash bonuses to encourage a large turnout at a nationwide protest against voluntary student unionism on Thursday, in an incentive scheme the Government has described as "rent-a-crowd".

The guild, which acts as a representative council for students, has offered $600 cash for the campus club which brings the most members to Thursday's rally, $500 to the most creatively dressed and $50 worth of photocopying to those bringing a group of at least 15.

The national rally has been called to protest against legislation expected to pass the Senate after June which gives students the choice of whether or not to join campus unions.

A spokesman for the federal Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, said yesterday, "The average, normal students whose compulsorily collected fees are paying for this sort of rent-a-crowd have probably had enough.

"This is a perfect example of how they continue to be forced to pay for activities that they may not need or want."

The University of NSW guild president, Manoj Dias-Abey, said the prizemoney served an educative role. "The aim of the campaign out at UNSW is to try and get a lot of the clubs on board, and try and explain to them the ramifications of VSU [voluntary student unionism]," Mr Dias-Abey said.

"The student guild gives about $200,000 to clubs per year, and the money's just coming from that pool … it's not additional funding."

The compulsory union fees at the university total more than $500 a year for full-time students, and cover membership of the sports association, the retail and services union and the guild.

The federal Labor MP Peter Garrett and the federal Greens senator Kerry Nettle will speak at Thursday's rally.

-------------------------------------------

Protests can be fun! Discuss.

hahah losers!

 

[iamsickofyear12]

These socialists don't understand the concept of the market.
They should be adapting, changing themselves to become a viable entity.

That's what I have been saying aswell. But I think they would rather complain and protest than make an effort to do that.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

next year, i still don't think they'll get it. They'll place doormats outside lecture theatres and say "u have to join the union to step on the union only doormat!!"

 

[withoutaface]

And they wonder why people say they're wasting money.

 

[Not-That-Bright]

OMG BUT WE'rE NOT WASTING MONEY CUZ USU ROX)0R! ROFL

I've got a counter to their rally's, i'll save you $550 next year.. if you DON'T attend the rally's

 

[Generator]

Still campaigning, I see.

For what it's worth, does anyone happen to know how this differs to what is/was the regular funding programme for clubs and socities at UNSW? As they say, this is being drawn from the existing funding pool, so for all that we know this may well be just a more public form of a typical 'let us reward the successful clubs' funding scheme.

 

[withoutaface]

It's also quite a good way to allow the government to ignore the figures on the number that marched because they can dismiss a large chunk as being bribed.