The Minister for Youth Affairs, Dr Kemp, today announced the introduction of National Voluntary Student Unionism legislation some time in 1999. Although we currently have state VSU legislation in the form of the 1993 Tertiary Education Act, the form in which it will be introduced nationally (based on the Western Australian model of VSU) will be far more draconian. Basically, it divides the General Service Fee (which all students pay at the beginning of the year) into a (compulsory) fee to be levied and administered by the University Administration for "educational services," and (voluntary) union dues. Because of the crafting of the GST legislation, these Union dues will be almost the only (directly) education-related fee to be subject to the GST, thus taxing the representative and solidarity functions of the Union even further. This is clear attempt to disable Unions' opposition to the Liberals' vandalization of the education system. THIS IS MERELY THE CONTINUATION OF THE UNION-SMASHING AGENDA, DEMONSTRATED SO GRAPHICALLY DURING THE MUA DISPUTE, OF THE HOWARD GOVERNMENT. NEXT ON REITH'S AGENDA WILL BE THE MINING, CONSTRUCTION & MEAT UNIONS. WHO WILL BE NEXT?? This is an urgent call for solidarity from AEU & NTEU members, and unionists everywhere. Contact education and student unions. Get involved before we're all wiped out. Lyndall Barnett Education/Welfare Officer Victoria University Student Union ph. 9365 2721 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com end ============== Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html The Year 2000 Bug - An Urgent Sustainability Issue http://www.peg.apc.org/~psutton/grin-y2k.htm Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
