NZ Bloggers Union
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:30 am by David FarrarA blog for the NZ Bloggers Union has been launched. The Union is compulsory, just like student associations. They explain:
If you are reading this and are a blogger based in or from New Zealand, then you are automatically a member. No matter your political persuasion, you are all members and we will be YOUR voice for Election 2008 and we will be YOUR voice for any other issue that takes our fancy. There is an objection clause if you choose to not take up membership but you will need to apply to the NZBU HQ and we will decide each case by merit – but who would want to leave when you will have a collective voice against the evil forces during election time.
Now they have reasons for their compulsion:
1) We need to be compulsory so that we represent every blogger. If we were fragmented we could not claim to represent all bloggers and would lose our voice!
2) It needs to be compulsory because we provide services to our members and cannot have freeloaders.
3) Paying levies is just like paying taxation. We provide services just like a government does. You cannot opt out of paying tax just like you cannot opt out of paying levies.
4) If membership was voluntary, nobody will join and everybody will lose out.
5) The vibrant blogging community would die out if we didn’t have a compulsory bloggers union.
Those arguments sound very familiar.
The NZBU will speak for and on behalf of bloggers like Jordan Carter, Tony Milne, The Standard, Robinsod, 08wire, No Right Turn, Jafapete, Sonic, Frog Blog, Public Address as well as other bloggers from all political persuasions.
That’s very good of them to agree to be represented by the Bloggers Union. Oh wait they had no choice. Just like all those students forced to join their student union.
Related posts:
- The compulsory bloggers union
- Joining a Union
- Another reason for VSM
- Voluntary Law Society Membership
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 am
Me too! I’m in for it.
Do the benefits include indemnity against lawsuits by right-wing political consultants?
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Hey, brilliant. Could this be the germ of a way around any future restrictions on free speech that don’t apply to unions?
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Sweet! When is the (presumably online) Initial General Meeting, when all members who bother to turn up (read: me and probably I/S) have the opportunity to set the fee structure, direct President Loudmouth what he can post on our official collective blog, etc?
[DPF: I'm sorry Rob bot you missed the IGM - it was held before you became a member. It was well advertised on our noticeboard in Thorndon though
]
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
I’m not too worried, like all compulsory unions the NZ Bloggers Union will suffer from a lack of membership buy-in and eventually collapse under its own weight when confronted with a challenge.
I suggest we vote to make it voluntary at the Initial General Meeting, though of course we reserve the right to negotiate a bargaining fee for non-members who wish to benefit from any gains we make as a collective.
Rob, I/S, etc, what do you reckon?
[DPF: I'm afraid the IGM can not make us voluntary - one needs a referendum of all bloggers and a minimum 50% turnout.
It is a very good point about the weakness from lack of membership buy-in but hey as long as people still get forced to fund us, we can survive]
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am
And how exactly will they make it compulsory? Will they take your computer away if you don’t cough up? (please let this be true….)
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:49 am
As one of NZ’s longest-running bloggers (I was blogging while your dial-up modem was still in nappies) I demand honorary membership or there will be serious trouble!
(reaches for launch controller of low-cost cruise missile).
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
I think they had a type in their promotional material! Wasn’t that U supposed to be an O
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Tane said
“I’m not too worried, like all compulsory unions the NZ Bloggers Union will suffer from a lack of membership buy-in and eventually collapse under its own weight when confronted with a challenge.
I suggest we vote to make it voluntary at the Initial General Meeting, though of course we reserve the right to negotiate a bargaining fee for non-members who wish to benefit from any gains we make as a collective.
Rob, I/S, etc, what do you reckon?”
What is this! Is this an official leak from the 9th floor………….Labour supports Voluntary Student Union Membership!
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
When you think about it, we could set up a compulsory union of voters. You won’t have to register (just think how much advertising expenditure this alone would save), and we are happy to represent you regardless of your political persuasion, religious conviction, convictions for other crimes, sexual orientation, etc. We will represent you all. You won’t have to worry about anything ever again, we will do it all for you. We won’t bother to set up exemption processes, because so few of you will be allowed out that it won’t make any difference anyway.
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 am
All sounds very fair to me.
Vote:Now pay your dues David and remember….. bend over and get shafted on a whim.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I want to see the Winding Up clause of the NZ Bloggers Union.
Hopefully it will state that upon a petition of one or more of the RIGHTWING members the LEFTWING members can be terminated with etxreme and I do mean extreme prejudice.
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
As a member of this union, I’m wondering…
Does one of our office holders automatically get to be a Labour Party vice president?
And will we be bypassing the EFA by running an advertising campaign on behalf of the Labour Party while pretending that the union’s and Labour’s advertising messages are identical because of some freaky coincidence, and are not even slightly due to our president being their vice-president and a Labour Party candidate?
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Excuse me,
Is this where I ask about special rates for triple dipping or double time for introspecting?
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Wheres the HQ and is there a handy set up point for a trebuchet within 200 meteres?
I wish to register a “vote”.
Vote:July 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
How many members makes a quorum for any meeting? And if we don’t have a quorum, are we still permitted free drinks courtesy of the bloggers union fees?
Vote:July 24th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Thank you to all my members for your many questions and suggestions. Our agenda isn’t hidden, we will collectively fight as one voice for the 2008 election – on the direct whims of your executive, who have no obligation to follow members wishes. This was decided during our IGM, which we already had – in which plenty of alcohol was consumed.
Tane – we especially look forward to representing you as we have been made aware you enjoy compulsion and unionism.
I understand, like the rest of the world, that compulsion does mean we may misrepresent our members wishes now and then, but like our brothers and sisters in NZUSA and member unions, they seem to see past that – and we shall as well.
Love and regards.
Vote: