Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Labor party supply chain management

In the era of out-sourcing, contract labour, fragmented supply chains, and flexible industrial relations, federal Labor has decided against reinstating compulsory student unionism if it wins the federal election. Quell horreur!

David Farrar and his NZ VSMers will be very impressed and, no doubt, on the hunt for a National or Act backbencher to front a NZ campaign for the 2008 general election.

Interestingly, Australia Student Unions are linked to parliamentary parties far more strongly than in NZ. Despite the ranting of the VSM movement in NZ, there isn't the cross over between campus and parliament in NZ that there is here. Sure there's a few on both sides of the house who're former presidents, and more than a few staff too, but I can only think of two recent senior student politicians who're high up in NZ Labour. Compared with Australia, where it seems every other recent parliamentarian (either state or federal) is either an ex-staffer or an ex-student pollie. For Australian Labor, losing the strong link to the universities will impact on their recruitment, possibly not a bad thing?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

as for the issue affecting Labor recruitment,people should be drawn to parties based on policy and ideology, not student union membership.

Just my opinion said...

It is indeed good news. Since when was it so necessary to have to pay to join a student union to get a degree?

Commonsense has prevailed. And remember, if the union was relevant to a student, they would join anyway?

backin15 said...

Ahhh c'mmmon fellas... too many years arguing this issue, too-freak'n-many...

HeyZeus said...

I see Andrew Little has decided to postpone his move into the NZ Labour Party (cynics suggesting that he wants to get the optimal timing).

backin15 said...

Yeah but the more sensible commentators suggest he's got more than a passing interest in the future leadership of the EPMU...

Just my opinion said...

Heh, well mate you did bring it up :)

Little is clever enough to know he should keep well away from this lot. Surely Clark is the poisoned chalice at the moment?

backin15 said...

"Surely Clark is the poisoned chalice at the moment?"

This is a leading question in the same way Pisa is a little crooked.