SENATE BILL: Fair Labor Standards Act of 2013 (Redraft at Vote)

[Maxwell]

Oh lordy, my list of grievances...

While I appreciate that you are scaling the minimum wage increase, it is chronically high. Also, section 5 seems far too intimate: how is the Atlasian Federal Government going to measure productivity of individual workers? Wouldn't that just be a raise, and therefore above the minimum wage?

And the thing is, the minimum wage areas is one where I disagree the least. The Dismissal and Tenure part practically makes it so that businesses can barely control their own operation. I could never support defining pay periods to two weeks, a month is fine, and having some variation is good (I worked at places that did a month and did a week). The Unpaid Labor section would do numbers to get rid of a lot of our future high earning population, as unpaid internships are an especially good way for students to move on up in the world. The Child Labor part I may be willing to work with if you DID allow a family based exception (I personally loved selling stuff in garage sales when I was five), but most of this bill is just beyond my willingness.

[Maxwell]

The Unpaid Labor section would do numbers to get rid of a lot of our future high earning population, as unpaid internships are an especially good way for students to move on up in the world.

Those jobs don't just go away, though. You assume that having no unpaid internships would mean that companies would shrug their shoulders and hire no one, and I'm pretty sure that just wouldn't happen.

That assumption was not made. It would get rid of a lot of future high earners, because companies would want someone who had some qualifications if they were actually going to pay them, and as a result, those with less experience would be doing something that would be less applicable and, as a result, probably earning lower wages for a longer time. Obviously there would still be some that companies feel are more worth their time and money to get a look at, but a lot of college age people would not be getting that experience.

[Maxwell]

I'll be productive on this even though I am 99% sure I won't vote for it. I'll outline some things I'll plan to amendment.

First:

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You said that your lowest is $18.00, so I changed the scale so that each year it goes up a dollar.

Second:

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This is my favorite section, and am anti-child labor, and the only thing I'd change about the bill is this.

This is where I'd like to start.

[Maxwell]

Don't forget the two amendments Senator Maxwell introduced!

Those amendments are not formal... yet.

[Maxwell]

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I'm offering this to be constructive. Once both or one are friendly/voted on, I will propose the other.

[Maxwell]

I'll formalize it right here.

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[Maxwell]

Aye

[Maxwell]

I'll go ahead and object so we can get a vote on this.

[Maxwell]

but really... NAY

[Maxwell]

The original text was fine on the ages, methinks.

[Maxwell]

object

[Maxwell]

Nay

[Maxwell]

Nay

Doesn't this outlaw things like craft sales or lemonade stands?

It outlaws things like 14 and 15 year olds working at McDonald's, which, as a former McDonald's employee, I can tell you does happen. Existing labor law allows employment at age 14 and only explicitly bans persons from working in factories before 16, as far as the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is concerned, iirc.

If you want that to be the case rather than craft sales or lemonade stands being banned, then I hope exceptions for family businesses would be more welcome now.

[Maxwell]

I have a big one coming.

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This version MIGHT be acceptable to me, if I'm feeling super agreeable.

[Maxwell]

I still have several qualms with this legislation, particularly unpaid labor, but seeing how none of them have much of a chance in passing, I'll wait for Maxwell's amendment before introducing anything.

I think we're on the same page on this law.

[Maxwell]

Absolutely Hostile.

I was aware I had no shot

[Maxwell]

AYE

[Maxwell]

Oh of course, you didn't want to make this old soul happy

[Maxwell]

Oh of course, you didn't want to make this old soul happy

If your party is going to run roughshod over people's rights, I'm going to vote to at least give them some job security.

Whatever.

[Maxwell]

Maxwell, was his vote originally an aye vote?

Yep.

[Maxwell]

Nay

[Maxwell]

Some of the amendments you put in there I would consider friendly (I.e. Prison Labor), however, on the whole (especially on pay periods), I have to object.

[Maxwell]

Some of the amendments you put in there I would consider friendly (I.e. Prison Labor), however, on the whole (especially on pay periods), I have to object.

There's a procedure for that, Maxwell. Specify everything that's friendly and everything that isn't, and (IIRC) the PPT can hold separate votes with the consent of the Senator offering the amendment.

I did not know that. Okay, I will make specific what I want to keep and what I want in:

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Those changes are friendly.

And Out:

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These changes are hostile.

[Maxwell]

Wait, what? Do I have to give feedback even though I sponsored the bill, or?

I'm not sure, but I think you give a go on whether or not we do a vote on those partial things I noted.

[Maxwell]

Nay!