Auckland Staunchies To Support Striking Students

Thursday 20th June 2002

Auckland Staunch Alliance members are pledging their support for striking high school students, angry at the underfunding of schools and the ongoing pay dispute between Government and teachers.

"It's great to see students taking action and fighting for their rights, and the future of our education system," said Julie Fairey, National Spokesperson for Staunch, Alliance Candidate for Epsom and number 16 on the Party List.

The Alliance has suggested automatic pay adjustments for state servants, including teachers, as part of a package aimed at stopping future disputes like the one that has crippled the secondary sector. The Alliance is also the only party that is putting social investment, in areas such as education, at the top of their priority list.

"It's not so long ago that I was suffering the underfunding of the school system myself," said Joseph Randall, Auckland Staunchie, Alliance Candidate for Maungakiekie, and number 29 on the Party List. "Now I have moved on to the underfunding and structural problems of the tertiary system, it seems there is no end to the decimation of education by Government."

"The Alliance has shown it's commitment to youth with its youth policy, released last week, which seeks to empower youth and involve them in their society," said Fairey. "Youth are not problems to be solved, we are the potential of New Zealand!"

Both Julie and Joseph will be at the high school students' rally in Aotea Square at 2pm tomorrow (Friday June 21st), talking to students and showing the Alliance's support for their plight. They will also be laden with voter enrolment forms and information, so look out for them in their Alliance (logo) and Staunch (big red star) t-shirts. Find out more about Staunch at www.staunch.org.nz

Contacts

Julie Fairey

National Spokesperson for Staunch Alliance

Alliance Candidate for Epsom

Number 16 on the Alliance Party List

Ph 09 534 0699

Or 021 172 3467

Email julie@staunch.org.nz

Joseph Randall

Auckland Staunch Contact

Alliance Candidate for Maungakiekie

Number 29 on the Alliance Party List

Ph 09 634 2301

Or 021 266 8925

Email yophus@yahoo.com

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