I am all for it. It is time Unions got their act together and worked FOR ALL students. UWSConnect will survive because it actually tries to encourage students whereas UWSSA will need to do a bit more work. The Unions claim that their services will cease to exist under VSU. My question is, who uses them? The UWSSA has spent a lot of time working with underprivileged which is fine, but the UWS Office of the Dean of Students already does that.
What's more is that by utilising UWS services, students are going about their misadvantures the correct way, the official way. By utilising UWSSA services, whilst they may assist, they will generally not be as effective. Obviously because Support Services is officially recognised by the university.
Our fees are modest yes. And we are continually drawn to the argument: our uni fees are much higher. However, let's compare them:
-You don't have to pay for uni fees, you can defer them. SAF can't be deferred and the university can withdraw your enrolment.
-Uni fees are based on a user-pay system, if you are utilising more facilities (e.g. medicine), you pay more. SAF is one equal payment, whether you use the facilities or not.
The union can survive. How? Operate like all other organisations in this world. Stop pretending to operate in student interests, and start doing it. Not everyone agrees with the Western Onion, and some of the facilities the union provides excludes other students. This is so unfair and hypocritical of a union that parades on itself as being all for student rights.
Being a UWSConnect member, I can safely say that VSU will benefit both unions that operate efficiently and their students.