Southern Legislation Introduction Thread - 2019/2020

[Elcaspar]

Workers Free Association Act

Whereas the current process for forming unions is skewed in favor of those who oppose unions.

Whereas change is necessary to protect workers' rights to join unions.

Whereas to establish an efficient system for enabling employees to form, join, or assist unions.

Be it enacted by the people of the Southern Region, represented by the House of Delegates.

Section I. Title
a) This act may be cited as the “Workers Free Association Act”

b) The bill may be referred to as the “WFAA” as a short title.

Section II. Definitions
a) ““Unions”” refers to any organization of workers that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Section III. Streamlining Union Certification
a)Allow the recognition of a union for the purpose of exclusive collective bargaining with an employer if a majority of employees sign cards stating their wish that the union represents them.

1) As such it would eliminate the need for an additional ballot to require an employer recognize a union, if a majority of workers have already signed cards expressing their wish to have a union.

Section IV.  Facilitating Initial Collective Bargaining Agreements
a) Provided that a union has been certified, the union could require the employer to begin negotiations for a collective agreement within ten days. If the employer and union are unable to reach agreement within 90 days, either side may take the dispute to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

1) However if the FMCS is still unable to bring the parties to agreement after providing mediation services for 30 days the dispute will be referred to arbitration. The results of said arbitration shall be binding on the parties for two year.

a) The union and employer may agree to extend any deadlines or time limits.

Section V. Strengthening Enforcement
a) Make the regional body responsible for labor relations seek injunctions against employers who discriminate against employees who attempt to organize a union. An injunction will also be available if the employer has "engaged in any other unfair labor practice"

b) If an employer is found to have violated the law, by either illegally discharging or discriminating against employees during an organizing campaign or first contract drive, the employer is required to pay two times back pay as liquidated damages, in addition to the back pay owed, for a total of three times back pay.

c) Giving out civil fines of up to $20,000 per violation against employers who have been found to have willfully or repeatedly violated employees' rights during an organizing campaign or first contract drive.

[Elcaspar]

END PET RENT ACT

HOUSE BILL

Be it resolved in the Southern Chamber of Delegates Assembled,

SECTION 1.

1. This Act may be cited as the "End Pet Rent Act”.

SECTION 2.

1. A landlord may not increase the rent or charge to a tenant a one-time, monthly or other periodic amount based on the tenant’s possession of one or more pets.
2. Section 1 shall not apply to properties rented out for a short period of time (30 days or less in total)
3. Landlords charging such fees prior to the enactment of this law must reimburse current tenants who had been paying such fees with an amount totaling the sum of all fees payed based on the tenant’s possession of one or more pets in the prior year, or, should the tenant have leased the property for less than a year, an amount totaling the sum of all fees payed for the duration of their lease.