United Workers Assembly

The United Workers Assembly is a center-left political party in the Republic of Lakkos. The UWA is a conglomerate of dozens of different labor unions and advocates for worker's rights and for a tightening of vocational safety measures. Founded in 25 BF by the charismatic journalist and soon to be party leader Francis Martello, the UWA was a relative political newcomer to Lakkosian politics. Despite their lack of experience, the party's popularity skyrocketed and it seemed as though it would only be a matter of time before the UWA could secure the presidency. Unfortunately for the party, a payola scandal in 5BF involving Martello destroyed the career of the party leader and tanked support for the UWA. Despite this major setback, Martello was able to rebuild his career, retake the party leadership, and prevent the party from dissolving completely. Though voters have yet to regain trust in the UWA, they are poised for a rejuvenation as they clash with the ruling Lakkos First party.

## Ideology

The United Workers Assembly started as an attempt to unify the multitude of labor unions and worker collectives that had sprung up throughout the history of Lakkos. From the island's settling, there had been little to no regulations set up regarding safety and worker's rights. These many groups all held the workers up as the paragons of Lakkosian society and politically fought on their behalf. These ideals became the cornerstone of the UWA, which Francis Martello founded to unite the many like-minded unions. Among the most important issues for the UWA are:

### Minimum Wage

The UWA holds a fair and equitable minimum wage to be the most basic right of every worker in Lakkos. This minimum wage must be adjusted for inflation and standard of living to insure that as Lakkos progresses, the workers are not left behind. Business which cannot or will not pay workers this minimum wage will be fined or shut down without question. The UWA believes the minimum wage is one of the fundamental rights that separates a worker from a mere slave.

### Labor Safety Regulations

The safety of all workers must be protected by legislation that holds businesses accountable for preventable accidents and injuries. Lakkos has always been home to industrious building efforts and worker safety was often an afterthought on these job sites. The UWA has been instrumental in getting basic safety standards implemented in many Lakkosian worksites, like the massive Undercity District excavation, and has used its political acumen to take many negligent businesses to task for breaking workplace safety laws.

### Basic Welfare Programs

It is the belief of the UWA that every citizen of Lakkos is entitled to basic protections against homelessness and crushing poverty. Lakkos has always been run by the wealthy elite who continuously horde money and power, always to the detriment of the common Lakkosian. Workers feel this pinch most of all, and the depressing poverty that has taken hold of Old Town (what some callously refer to as the Slums) shows how widespread this problem is. The rich and powerful can stand to lose a small portion of their fortunes to help ensure that the streets aren't lined with the homeless and workers don't have to live in generational levels of impoverishment.

## Leadership

The UWA has only had one party leader, that being its founder Francis Martello, though from 5BF to 0AF, following a political scandal that saw Martello ousted as party leader, prominent worker's rights advocate Jennifer Steiner led as interim party leader. Francis Martello's political resurgence in 0AF saw him regain the leadership, which he still holds to this day. Despite Martello's problems, his popularity with workers and the UWA at large is still substantial and he remains the most likely candidate for the next UWA presidential ticket.