Socialist Reform Bill

The Socialist Reform Bill was a bill proposed by Holmgang outlining the workings of a ULPP led government and economy. It covered a broad array of economic and social concerns. This bill sparked a controversy, being seen as radical by the center to far-right parties, but was expected to pass due to the parliamentary majority held by left-wing parties.

After a few amendments were made, the bill passed the National Assembly 56-26 on February 11th 2021 and became law shortly afterwards.

Summary
This bill is intended to be a wholesale reform of Doggerland, implementing a variety of Socialist policies to radically change Doggerland for the better. This will include the gradual collectivising (done through stock transfer) of companies, providing a slate of universal services to every inhabitant of Doggerland, nationalising essential services and industries and providing subsidies to allow the development of a thriving Socialist economy.

1. Gradual stock transfer
A process will be began of gradually transferring stock transfer from a company to its employees as a collective body. This will be done by transferring 5% yearly from (a) the passing of this bill or, in the case that the company is founded after the passing of this bill (b) from the foundation of the company or when it gets its first employees. This will continue until workers own 75% of a given company. Stock will be owned jointly by all employees in the form of a cooperative. Said co-operatives can decide on individual profit distribution plans. These co-operatives must be operated democratically with each member having equal shares. However, worker wages must be maintained and workers have the right to object to unfair or discriminating treatment by the cooperative (for example, regarding profit sharing). Said complaints will be handled by an independent workers’ rights board which will decide whether there was unfair treatment.

2. Universal housing
The government will be required to put at least $1b (with increases regarding inflation) into constructing public housing each year. This number will go down by 5% each year until reaching a $750m minimum. This housing will be rented out for free to those who needed, with rent only being paid by those who can afford to. Over time, public housing will be brought into the collective ownership of tenants through a system of ‘Rent to Own’ where 10% of rent is put into the collective purchase of housing. Public housing will be required to have space for inhabitants as well as proper heating, insulation and water supply. It must follow regulatory standards as laid out for commercial housing. Public housing must also be designed to be a friendly environment, with buildings being designed for aesthetic as well as functional appeal. Public housing will be developed as flats as to minimise land use and maximise green space available.

3. Co-operative seed funds
The government must set aside at least $50m (with increases regarding inflation) for creation of a co-operative seed fund to help the foundation of co-operatives. A Government organisation (National Co-Operative Seed Fund, or NCOSF) will be established to distribute this money. Groups of people looking to start a co-operative may apply for funding, and will be given advice on costs by NCOSF employees. Once an application has been filed, the NCOSF will decide whether the cooperative receives funding (how much being decided based on prior advice given to applicants) based on criteria decided by the NCOSF and approved by the Home Secretary or Prime Minister.

4. Tenant collective seed funds
A system aligned with (3) (under NCOSF with $50m allocated) will be established to help tenants purchase their flats collectively. Tenants will only receive funds if they can afford to buy ½ the building, with them being provided money to buy the other half.

5. Nationalising rail and bus networks
All rail, bus, tram or other ‘public transport’ networks will be nationalised and brought under government ownership. Control over local networks (those not extending out of a single administrative region) will be given to regional administrators while national networks will be controlled by the ministry of transport. Local networks will have means-tested pricing, with individuals earning under $30,000 and children receiving free public transport and individuals earning under $50,000 receiving transport for ¼ off and half-price busses and trams. This will be subsidised by the regional administrators. National networks will be half-price for those earning under $40,000 and children. Prices on all networks will be set by the relevant authority and will rise with inflation.

6. Completely nationalising education
All schools as well as universities will be brought under direct government ownership. This includes for-profit private schools and privately-run academies excluding those run by charities. Four fifths of Private Schools will be closed down in order to limit government costs. Schools (not the curriculum) will be primarily managed by a council of representatives of faculty and parents, with two thirds faculty and one third by parents. This will be done via two separate councils, with the teacher council holding final say. Universities will be run similarly, with three quarters of the council representing faculty and one quarter representing students.

7. Completely nationalising healthcare
Healthcare will entirely be brought under government ownership, with no subcontracting out to private companies. It will be entirely free to all residents. Healthcare will be run by different administrative regions, federalising it. There will be a national body to oversee standards which has the power to overrule regional bodies to enforce cooperation and policy uniformity to streamline the system.

8. Means tested union fees
The government will subsidise union membership fees for those who can’t afford it. This will be means tested, with the government paying anything from 5% to 100% of fees depending on the ability to pay. This will allow anyone to join a union.

9. Closed shops
Workers may, by way of a majority vote of everyone in their workplace, establish a Closed Shop. This means that all employees as well as any new employees are required to join the workplace’s union.

a) allowing new workers to have a say in the workplace democracy and vote to uphold/remove closed shop status as long as a simple majority is in favor, and

b) prohibiting firing without a just cause. A just cause would not include participating/voting to join a union.

10. Compensation
Owners of the property mentioned in sections (1), (5), (6), and (7) will be compensated for an adequate portion of its value within an appropriate time frame. The portion will be whatever percentage is deemed appropriate by a process of arbitration undertaken during an initial five year implementation period, the percent which will be compensated will start initially at 33% of its value over 75 years for businesses worth less than $5 million USD mentioned in section 1 and 20% of its value over 100 years for businesses worth more than $5 million USD, and 50% of its value over 50 years for the property mentioned in sections (5), (6), and (7). This compensation will be paid in annual installments in the official currency of Doggerland in the year it is being paid, and will be paid at the market rate for the property at the time of the payment. If the original owner of the property is deceased, the payments will be transferred to their spouse or next of kin

Effects
Then Republican Commissioner Melvin Bradley's investigation into the effects the Socialist Reform Bill had on the Dogger economy concluded on the 8th April that it had been especially successful, scoring 20/20 on the commissions ranking system.