Seeking to stave off any further criticism of President Tattar’s delay in passing the Unionist’s landmark federal minimum pay threshold for workers, newly anointed Federal Council Leader Yulian Sharonov today proposed the key legislation in the upper chamber. Announcing the bill earlier today, Mr Sharonov, a key Tattar ally, said “This bill represents not just a better deal for Polasciana’s workers – but a better future for everyone in this country. The President argued with vigour last year that good work is paid work, and wages which barely cover the cost of food is not good enough in a fast developing nation like our own”.
Sharonov replaced Anita Kappeler-Lhotzky as leader of the upper chamber over the weekend following months of concerns over the performance of his predecessor in the role. An experienced Council member, having served as the junior and now senior member for Arvi since 2007, Sharonov is well regarded by members of the Unionist caucus and has been seen as a ‘safe pair of hands’ to take over the reigns. Announced as the new leader on Saturday, he has been a key proponent of the president’s legislative agenda, and has urged the party’s leadership to speed up the delivery of many of its campaign promises. The Federal Wage Floor Bill introduced today would effectively mean signing into law a pay rise for nearly five million Polascianan workers – including those in key critical industries such as mineworkers and the military. Speaking ahead of the vote due later this afternoon Sharonov continued “This bill will mean the dignity of a real wage for every worker in this country. It is time we got this passed and got on with the job of making it easier to get on and get up.”
There are no concerns that the legislation will not pass in the Federal Council, but it faces a far greater challenge in the Assembly, where the Unionist’s opponents hold a 10 seat majority. The governing Coalition led by Prime Minister Krill Serbin continues to obfuscate as to whether it will back the policy when presented, with Sharonov’s job now to convince five members of the party to vote for it. “The simple fact is the Unionists only need to get five Coalition members to back the bill – and it will pass. The Nationalists are voting with the president and his party because they know this speaks to a huge number of the concerns of their voters too – but there will be others in the Progressive and Centrist caucus who will split with the government if it continues to vote against it” said one source this afternoon.
The legislation is likely to be presented to the lower house on Thursday.
