Comments on: NZ Bloggers Union

By: President Loudmouth

President Loudmouth — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:34:17 +0000

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.

By: PaulL

PaulL — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:25:15 +0000

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?

By: Murray

Murray — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:15:14 +0000

Wheres the HQ and is there a handy set up point for a trebuchet within 200 meteres?

I wish to register a “vote”.

By: Political Busker

Political Busker — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:15:42 +0000

Excuse me,

Is this where I ask about special rates for triple dipping or double time for introspecting?

By: davidp

davidp — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:18:11 +0000

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?

By: gd

gd — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:00:50 +0000

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.

By: Michaels

Michaels — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:05:39 +0000

All sounds very fair to me.
Now pay your dues David and remember….. bend over and get shafted on a whim.

By: bharmer

bharmer — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:58:10 +0000

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.

By: boomtownprat

boomtownprat — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:54:10 +0000

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!

By: dave strings

dave strings — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:52:34 +0000

I think they had a type in their promotional material! Wasn’t that U supposed to be an O

By: aardvark

aardvark — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:49:21 +0000

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).

By: bearhunter

bearhunter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:47:14 +0000

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….)

By: Tane

Tane — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:44:56 +0000

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.

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]

By: Rob Salmond

Rob Salmond — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:42:28 +0000

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 ]

By: PhilBest

PhilBest — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:37:15 +0000

Hey, brilliant. Could this be the germ of a way around any future restrictions on free speech that don’t apply to unions?

By: jafapete

jafapete — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:32:20 +0000

Me too! I’m in for it.

Do the benefits include indemnity against lawsuits by right-wing political consultants?