http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/259785/community-groups-%27fear-speaking-out%27
Just want to say that many community groups do not wish to speak because they are not political. This began in the 80's under the auspicious title 'professionalism'. Once upon a time in a land called activism those who worked in community groups came from the communities they lived in or had dealt with issues that they now worked with - eg: alcohol and drug addiction. As the govt cut back on funding and did so via the demand that those in community orgs needed qualifications to prove they could work with their own communities, the depoliticised middle classes moved in and took over many positions now made empty whilst the 'uneducated' tried to deal with educating themselves. Those organisations who continued to engage politically where starved of funding.
Yes groups stood up but many did not resist and it was easier not to do as peoples lives depended on the income. And that is were the problem continued to create less politicised community groups. As these qualified community directors cried we are worth more because we are qualified this became louder then we are here for our communities! Why, because in many cases they were not part of the communities they were working for.
And I am not speaking empty here I worked for Rape Crisis - yes for a very short time and watched as women in that organisation made decisions that were about increasing wages and NOT engaging in political work - yes there was an air of the political work but was - as it is now in many community groups now - watered down.
I worked for 10 years in various community based roles - one of the reasons I left - like so many others at the time - was because I was being sanctioned by my bosses because they were afraid of jeopardising our funding - and one of the main reasons was because collectives began employing co-ordinators who then became known as directors (gave us status so I was told) and these directors demanded wages that reflected their expertise and qualifications.
So yes the govt certainly anted community groups to shut the fuk up but many of those groups were happy to comply - I remember saying to people - what would happen if we all just did not comply but kept doing the work?http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/259785/community-groups-%27fear-speaking-out%27
Just want to say that many community groups do not wish to speak because they are not political. This began in the 80's under the auspicious title 'professionalism'. Once upon a time in a land called activism those who worked in community groups came from the communities they lived in or had dealt with issues that they now worked with - eg: alcohol and drug addiction. As the govt cut back on funding and did so via the demand that those in community orgs needed qualifications to prove they could work with their own communities, the depoliticised middle classes moved in and took over many positions now made empty whilst the 'uneducated' tried to deal with educating themselves. Those organisations who continued to engage politically where starved of funding.
Yes groups stood up but many did not resist and it was easier not to do as peoples lives depended on the income. And that is were the problem continued to create less politicised community groups. As these qualified community directors cried we are worth more because we are qualified this became louder then we are here for our communities! Why, because in many cases they were not part of the communities they were working for.
And I am not speaking empty here I worked for Rape Crisis - yes for a very short time and watched as women in that organisation made decisions that were about increasing wages and NOT engaging in political work - yes there was an air of the political work but was - as it is now in many community groups now - watered down.
I worked for 10 years in various community based roles - one of the reasons I left - like so many others at the time - was because I was being sanctioned by my bosses because they were afraid of jeopardising our funding - and one of the main reasons was because collectives began employing co-ordinators who then became known as directors (gave us status so I was told) and these directors demanded wages that reflected their expertise and qualifications.
So yes the govt certainly anted community groups to shut the fuk up but many of those groups were happy to comply - I remember saying to people - what would happen if we all just did not comply but kept doing the work?http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/259785/community-groups-%27fear-speaking-out%27