AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO WORKERS' RIGHTS.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included some details that were implied but not explicitly stated in the official source material.

Delaware Workers' Rights Amendment

This bill proposes adding a new section to Article I of the Delaware Constitution that would give employees the right to organize and bargain collectively with their employers.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new section to Article I of the Delaware Constitution stating that employees have the fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions.
• Protects workers' rights by preventing laws from interfering with collective bargaining or workplace safety agreements.

Who It Names or Affects

• All employees in Delaware who want to form unions or negotiate better working conditions.
• Employers and businesses that may be affected by new union rules and collective bargaining agreements.

Terms To Know

Collective Bargaining

When workers join together to talk with their employer about things like pay, hours, and working conditions.

Constitutional Amendment

A change made to a state or country's constitution that requires special approval from lawmakers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill needs two-thirds approval in both houses of the General Assembly and must be passed again by the next session for it to become part of the Constitution.
• It is not clear how employers will respond to these changes if they are approved.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO WORKERS' RIGHTS.
This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would establish a fundamental right for all employees to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work.
This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.
In addition, as the first leg of a constitutional amendment, the next General Assembly must pass an act concurring with this Act for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Burns & Rep. Morrison & Rep. Osienski & Sen. Walsh

Rep. Gorman

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 234

AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE DELAWARE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO WORKERS' RIGHTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Article I of the Delaware Constitution by making insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 22. Workers’ rights.

Employees have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. No law may be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment.

SYNOPSIS

This Act is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would establish a fundamental right for all employees to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work.

This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article XVI of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend the Delaware Constitution.

In addition, as the first leg of a constitutional amendment, the next General Assembly must pass an act concurring with this Act for it to become part of the Delaware Constitution.