Northeast Assembly Thread

[cinyc]

Richard Stern from the UNEPSE neither understands the Practical Labor Policy Act nor the plight of ordinary hard-working private sector Atlasians who are having hard times making ends meet.

The bill calls for contract renegotiations.  It does not mandate them.   Current contracts will be honored until their terms expire.  Any strike would be a breach of current union contracts - and this Assembly will take whatever action is necessary to stop any illegal UNEPSE strike. 

Nor does the bill MANDATE any penalty for strikes.  Instead, the Northeast will be asking that future public employee union contracts PROVIDE FOR a penalty for strikes in upcoming contract negotiations.  That requirement is waiveable if the Assembly and governor agrees.

What this bill does is set minimum standards for the upcoming contract renegotiations.

Richard Stern doesn't get it.  There are millions of unemployed Northeasterners who would LOVE to have a government job right now.  There are millions of Northeasterners who are struggling to make ends meet.  The Northeast Government can no longer afford to lavish public employees with salaries and benefits that are far in excess of what's available to Northeasterners in the private sector. 

[cinyc]

Richard Stern from the UNEPSE neither understands the Practical Labor Policy Act nor the plight of ordinary hard-working private sector Atlasians who are having hard times making ends meet.

The bill calls for contract renegotiations.  It does not mandate them.   Current contracts will be honored until their terms expire.  Any strike would be a breach of current union contracts - and this Assembly will take whatever action is necessary to stop any illegal UNEPSE strike. 

Nor does the bill MANDATE any penalty for strikes.  Instead, the Northeast will be asking that future public employee union contracts PROVIDE FOR a penalty for strikes in upcoming contract negotiations.  That requirement is waiveable if the Assembly and governor agrees.

What this bill does is set minimum standards for the upcoming contract renegotiations.

Richard Stern doesn't get it.  There are millions of unemployed Northeasterners who would LOVE to have a government job right now.  There are millions of Northeasterners who are struggling to make ends meet.  The Northeast Government can no longer afford to lavish public employees with salaries and benefits that are far in excess of what's available to Northeasterners in the private sector. 

Just for the record, "shall" implies mandating an action.

Yeah - the Northeast is going to review and renegotiate public employee union contracts.   That's what the bill says.  But any renegotiated agreement needs support from both sides.  Nothing in the bill says that the Northeast would breach our obligations under existing contracts if the unions don't wish to renegotiate.   Nothing in the bill says the Northeast will unilaterally impose its demands on public employee unions.

What the bill really does is set forward this Assembly's clear guidelines on what we'd expect in new union contracts, whether renegotiated or negotiated because of expiration.

[cinyc]

Section 3 is patently unconstitutional. Assessing a day's wage's penalty  (as opposed to merely not paying a salary) is assessing a fine for constitutionally protected organizing and striking. regardless of whether one penalizes striking with life in prison or a $100 fine, that still makes conduct illegal. And the fact it's being done as a contract makes no difference whatsoever. Even private agencies are SEVERELY limited in allowing employees to validly contract away their constitutional and legal rights. For the government, as a state actor, to attempt doing so makes such provisions not worth the paper they're printed on.

My wild guess is that almost no one--maybe no one period--on this forum belongs to a union household, but that's another issue altogether.

Really?  New York's Taylor Law does just that REGARDLESS of what it says in public employee contracts - and is perfectly constitutional.  It also takes away future dues withholding for public employee unions that strike.

Of course, the leftist, activist Atlasian Supreme Court may see things otherwise.  But in my view, the Northeast as employer can negotiate whatever we want into our union contracts.

Your assumption that nobody on this forum being in a union household is wrong, I'm sure.  In states that aren't right-to-work states (like many in the U.S. Northeast), people are FORCED to join unions or pay useless dues for no benefit against their will as a condition of employment.    Talk about the ultimate violation of freedom of association - the right not to associate with or pay tribute to union thugs with whom you vehemently disagree.  People in union households don't necessarily like unions.

[cinyc]

But unlike the Taylor Law this act doesn't mandate mediation and (key here) binding arbitration as an alternative for resolving the strike, potentially in the strikers favor. Without such recourse legally binding the regional government to resolve a labor dispute, this simply (and, again, arguably unconstitutionally) criminalizes striking by public employees.

EDIT: Here's a thought. Why not amend the law to include any and all state government administrators with authority--including shared authority--to negotiate and/or resolve a particular labor dispute on the state's behalf, and fine them 2 days pay for every day a strike lasts? Hey, it takes two to tango.

I disagree with your analysis.  Even if I agreed, we don't need to amend the bill.  Again, all most of the bill does (well, at least the provisions I drafted) is set minimum standards for future public employee union contracts.  Any binding arbitration or other provision can be built into future contracts in the negotiation process.  By the way, almost all minimum provisions are waiveable by another Assembly vote on a case-by-case basis.

[cinyc]

Does Rep. segwaystyle seek to speak on behalf of the bill on the floor?

[cinyc]

Hey Badger, you're a member of NE Assembly?

Badger and all other citizens of the Northeast - and Atlasia in general - are welcome to provide feedback on this thread.

[cinyc]

Then why not just add "justifiable" somewhere in the bill such as:

The Northeast Region shall protect the right of any citizen to use lethal, justifiable force to protect his life, liberty, or property.

[cinyc]

Aye

[cinyc]

Richard Stern can go pound sand.  I have no problem with 1, but will not be bullied by union thugs into amending laws. 

If his workers go on an illegal strike, we should just fire them all and replace them.   It's not like there aren't enough unemployed workers in the Northeast who would love to have a job right now.  They have a contract - and should live up to it.

[cinyc]

Wait, what are we voting/discussing now? Union thing or self-defense thing?

Voting on self-defense.  Discussing both.

[cinyc]

I will oppose any attempts to amend the law and fully oppose any legislation supported by Stern and his cronies. I will be leading a coalition that will hope to persuade the governor to approve immediate contract renegotiation.

I am up for contract renegotiation, if the legislature would prefer it.

We can't renegotiate anything unless the other side agrees.  A contract is a contract.

[cinyc]

I will oppose any attempts to amend the law and fully oppose any legislation supported by Stern and his cronies. I will be leading a coalition that will hope to persuade the governor to approve immediate contract renegotiation.

I am up for contract renegotiation, if the legislature would prefer it.

We can't renegotiate anything unless the other side agrees.  A contract is a contract.

Until the Northeast Region, in all it's wisdom, decides they don't want it anymore. Shame the workers apparently don't have that cute luxury. Goddamn slimy union workers.

I'm sorry if the Northeast isn't the socialist workers paradise you envision.    Pity we're taking a stand against public employee unions, whose lavish pay packages and benefits are out of line with the people who employ them - and bankrupting this region.

Nothing in the law says that the Northeast will break existing union contracts.  If the unions go on strike, they will be in breach, with all of the attendant consequences.

[cinyc]

I guess Lt. Gov. Libertas didn't post the next bill due to the lateness of the hour when he closed the vote last night. This bill is next:

Wiki Emergency Act

Given the fact that informations about Northeast Assembly, Northeast Laws and the Region in general on Atlasia wiki are in many cases missing or outdated, and rhe fact that the person responsible for updating, namely Lieutenant Governor, not always have an acess.
1. Governor shall name a Northeast citizen with active Atlasia wiki account to carry on these duties if the Region face situation described above, for a period of minimum two months
2. The nominee shall be confirmed by Northeast Assembly
   
Sponsor: Rep Kalwejt

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate on this bill will continue until at least 11:25AM Eastern on Thursday, March 25, 2010, unless the debate period is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The Sponsor, Representative Kalwejt, has the floor.

[cinyc]

The one concern I have is that by requiring a formal appointment process, we're turning fixing the wiki into an office.  If we do that, thanks to the Libertas case, we're limiting the pool of people that we can ask to fix the wiki, since most who have access are likely older users who have been elected or appointed somewhere else. 

Can't we just write a bill that allows the Lt. Governor to delegate the responsibility of updating the wiki to any Northeast citizen who has access to and agrees to do it?  We'd also clarify that it's not an office. 

When I have time, I will also check where we specified wiki updating responsibility.  I think it was the SOAP, but if we put it in the constitution, this might have to be an amendment.

FWIW, I've asked Dave for Wiki access, too, and haven't heard back from him.

[cinyc]

My proposal:

Section 4(c) of the Standing Order on Assembly Procedure shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

(c) The Lt. Governor shall maintain a public list of Standing Orders, unsuccessful bills actually voted upon, and Acts in the Atlasia Wiki for the Northeast, with a link to the text of such legislation.   If the Lt. Governor does not have an account to edit the Atlasia Wiki, the Lt. Governor shall designate a Northeast citizen with active Atlasia Wiki account to temporarily carry on these duties on the Lt. Governor's behalf until the Lt. Governor receives access to edit the Atlasia Wiki.   Any designated Northeast citizen shall not be considered an officeholder of the Northeast or Atlasia.

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I don't see why the Assembly needs to confirm this person.  It's the Lt. Governor's job, so he should be able to designate someone else if he doesn't have access.  If the Lt. Governor nominates someone who does a crappy job, we can always vote him out of office at the next election.

[cinyc]

My proposal:

Section 4(c) of the Standing Order on Assembly Procedure shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

(c) The Lt. Governor shall maintain a public list of Standing Orders, unsuccessful bills actually voted upon, and Acts in the Atlasia Wiki for the Northeast, with a link to the text of such legislation.   If the Lt. Governor does not have an account to edit the Atlasia Wiki, the Lt. Governor shall designate a Northeast citizen with active Atlasia Wiki account to temporarily carry on these duties on the Lt. Governor's behalf until the Lt. Governor receives access to edit the Atlasia Wiki.   Any designated Northeast citizen shall not be considered an officeholder of the Northeast or Atlasia.

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I don't see why the Assembly needs to confirm this person.  It's the Lt. Governor's job, so he should be able to designate someone else if he doesn't have access.  If the Lt. Governor nominates someone who does a crappy job, we can always vote him out of office at the next election.

I would accept that, but I'm affraid about Lt. Governor impartiality in this case. Suggestions?

We elected the Lt. Governor knowing it is his job to update the Wiki.  If we trusted him to update the Wiki himself, we shouldn't worry about who he nams to temporarily update it in his stead.  We can always vote the Lt. Governor out in the next election if his guy screws things up.

I suppose you could have the Assembly confirm the appointment, if you'd wish.  I'd prefer to put that to a vote, though, as in my opinion, doing so makes the position look more like an office instead of someone just volunteering to help out.

[cinyc]

Rep.  Kalwejt-

How do you want the vote to proceed?  By amending my proposal to add a sentence requiring Assembly confirmation, then voting first on a motion to strike that sentence, or was my entire proposal friendly?  If you want to require Assembly confirmation, I'd suggest the following language in red:

Section 4(c) of the Standing Order on Assembly Procedure shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

(c) The Lt. Governor shall maintain a public list of Standing Orders, unsuccessful bills actually voted upon, and Acts in the Atlasia Wiki for the Northeast, with a link to the text of such legislation.   If the Lt. Governor does not have an account to edit the Atlasia Wiki, the Lt. Governor shall designate a Northeast citizen with active Atlasia Wiki account to temporarily carry on these duties on the Lt. Governor's behalf until the Lt. Governor receives access to edit the Atlasia Wiki.   The Northeast Assembly shall confirm the designated Northeast citizen by a majority vote of all voting Representatives.  Any designated Northeast citizen shall not be considered an officeholder of the Northeast or Atlasia.

[cinyc]

There will be two votes.  This vote will be on the amendment to strike the Assembly confirmation requirement.  In other words, we're voting on whether to make the bill read as follows:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This vote shall remain open until 11:25 AM on Friday, March 26, unless all Representatives shall have voted sooner.  A vote on final passage of the bill (with or without the amendment) will commence thereafter.

[cinyc]

Aye

[cinyc]

6 million public employees are now on strike. The lights in the Assembly chamber have been turned off.

I think I know how to flip a switch and turn lights on.  We'll have to decide what to do about this illegal strike.  Probably sue for an injunction to get the union back to work.

[cinyc]

By a vote of 5-0, with 5 absences, the amendment passes.

We will now vote on final passage of the bill, as amended:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This vote shall remain open until 12:01 PM on Saturday, March 27, unless all Representatives shall have voted sooner.  Since this is an amendment to the SOAP, it does NOT need approval from the Governor.

[cinyc]

Aye

[cinyc]

By  vote of 5-1 with 4 unexcused absences, the Wiki Emergency Act passes.

Next bill:

[Needs a name]
Article IV of the Northeast Constitution is hereby amended as follows:

The office of Governor of the Northeast Region shall be oficially renamed to the office of Chief Executive of the Northeast Region. The office of Lieutenant Governor of the Northeast Region shall be oficially renamed to the office of Deputy Chief Executive of the Northeast Region.

Sponsor: Rep. Kalwejt

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate on this bill will continue until at least 2:35PM Eastern on Monday, March 29, 2010, unless the debate period is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The Sponsor, Representative Kalwejt, has the floor.

[cinyc]

Opposed, and would like to shorten debate.

I'd shorten the debate, but I can only do so for up to 12 hours under Lt. Govenor's correct interpretation of the SOAP.   I don't want to open a vote at 2:30 AM.  I suppose I can shorten debate until about 8AM on Monday, if I have time to open up the vote.  Often times,  I don't have time in the mornings, though.  I'll try.

I am opposed to this amendment as well.   I see no reason to change the name of the Governor and don't want to waste money changing over highway signs and stationery.

[cinyc]

By the way, what should we be doing about the strike?