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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 23. September 12 1977

Editorial

page 4

Editorial

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Last weeks cover story exposed the farce of free bargaining for what it was - a political con-job to dupe working people into low wage rises that fell well behind the increasing cost of living. Things have moved fast since then. The Government has tried to enforce the social contract with threats to both employers and unions in the current Power Board workers award talks.

It seems on the surface as if the Government has made a major blunder in interfering in the talks and is now in a comer. A closer examination, however, reveals that the Government is indulging in a great deal of political cleverness, similar to their "news leaks".

Tony Neary's Union is going for a basic rise of 7.4% (9% for rural districts - special case). The Government is likely to put up a big fight over the Power Board workers claim and finally give in. This will immediatly act as a margin for later award talks for other Unions. You can bet that the F.O.L. will be looking to enforce this limit and sell out their members. This has probably been planned all along by Muldoon and Skinner.

Gordon, Gair and Templeton aren't so stupid as to interfere in wage without a very good reason. They have one. To indulge in shadow-boxing with the Power Board workers and then finally give in effectively sends the ball back into the Unions court.

Not only can workers not rely on the National Government to protect their living standards, but they also cannot rely on the F.O.L. - their so-called representatives;

Tony Neary and the Power Board workers are just a pawn in the "boost profit by cutting wages game".

Workers in their Unions now shoulder total responsibility protecting their living standards. The least we can do as students in somewhat similar conditions is support them.

Months have passed since the 'findings' of the Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion were released. Apart from one attempt to organise a march to oppose the Commission, inactivity has been the prominent feature of the organised abortion liberalisation lobby. And yet public opinion surveys show that the majority of New Zealanders oppose the Commissions findings in favour of laws that would make abortions more easily available.

VUWSA is now starting to get itself into gear in anticipation of the repressive legislation taken from the report being passed through the farce of Parliament sometime in October. The Situation is very urgent if women are not to have this basic democratic, civil right finally taken away from them.

Many people, (both women and men) have expressed their willingness to do something positive in this respect but the opportunities have not as yet been available.

For the next week VUWSA will be organising activities to involve the largest number of people which will culminate in a march on Women Sufferage Day.

This legislation will deeply affect us all, especially women who will receive yet another body blow from the National Government. Both female and male students are urged to become involved in this struggle against [unclear: strvr] interference in the lives of New Zealanders.