National Labor

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National Labor

National Arbejdskraft
AbbreviationA
LeaderAndreas Støvring
General SecretaryMalene Thygesen
Founded1876
HeadquartersNorenstal
NewspaperFolkets Stemme
Youth wingUng Arbejdskraft
Women's wingArbejde Kvinder
Membership (2019)Decrease 12,356,092
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Political positionCentre left to left-wing
Colors  Red
Chamber of Representatives
123 / 500
Chamber of Nobles
42 / 200
First ministers
2 / 7
State parliaments
388 / 1,325
County councils
1,803 / 5,290
Municipal councils
21,842 / 47,580
Website
www.nationalarbejdskraft.del

National Labor (Delkoran: National Arbejdskraft) is a left-wing political party in Delkora. With over 12 million registered members, it is the largest political party in Delkora and one of the largest parties in Eracura.

History

National Labor was formed in 1876 by the United Workers Congress of Delkora to represent the interests of the country's growing trade union movement. Despite political repression by the jarls of Delkora's states, the party quickly established itself as a major electoral force, displacing the Liberals as the largest leftist party in the 1880 federal election and winning a plurality.

During the chancellorship of Magnus Brom (1880-1888), the party introduced economic reforms that laid the foundation for Delkora's welfare state, including unemployment and disability insurance, old age security, universal pensions, and workers' compensation. It also codified the right to collective bargaining and legalized strikes. Brom's government also instituted a number of political reforms, including universal male suffrage and passage of a constitutional amendment limiting the power of the jarls.

National Labor continued to consolidate its power over the next several years, gaining a strong presence in state and local legislatures. It was returned to government from 1896 to 1912 under the chancellorships of Torsten Branting and Niels Frederiksen. During their tenure, NL pushed forward with continued political reforms that included reigning in the power of the Chamber of Nobles and extending suffrage to women. On the economic front, it instituted the eight hour work day and created a system of employer-provided health insurance. NL also secured support for reform of the Vallyar Order and mandatory secular education.

Going into the 20th Century, NL was seen as one of the most influential leftist parties in Eracura and presided over an increasingly militant labor movement. This growing militancy led to a red scare in Delkora that was stoked by right-wing parties and the increasingly conservative leadership of the trade unions, who worked to expel communists from their ranks. These ideological conflicts were carried over into the party, and came to a head with the outbreak of the Ruvelkan Civil War in 1914, when NL leadership declared its support for the Imperial Separatists. This prompted the party's left flank to break away and join the nascent Communist Party of Delkora.

After purging the remaining radicals from the party, NL went on to adopt the Gothendral Manifesto in 1915, renouncing socialist revolution and declaring its support for reform of capitalism. Over the next several years, the party came to be dominated by corrupt political machines in the major cities. It supported the Brøndum government's Sedition Acts, which targeted radical labor groups.

Organization

National Labor consists of individual dues-paying members, affiliated trade unions, and constituency organizations. It is organized into chapters at the municipal, county, and state levels. Each chapter functions autonomously within the guidelines established by the party's national constitution. Municipal chapters are led by an Executive Committee comprised of delegates elected by a vote of party members in the municipality. The municipal Executive Committees, in turn, send delegates to county Executive Committees, which in turn send delegates to state Executive Committees. Delegates at each level are instantly-revocable.

The highest authority within NL is the Congress, which meets once a year at the party's annual convention and is comprised of elected delegates. The Congress votes on changes to the party's structure, constitution and bylaws, and national platform. It appoints members of the Federal Executive Committee, which is chaired by the General Secretary. The party's Federal Leader is elected by a nationwide vote of all party members, and this person is usually nominated as its chancellor candidate. A motion of no confidence can be brought against the Leader at any time by the party's Chamber of Representatives caucus, the Federal Executive Committee, or by petition of at least 25% of party members.

Base of support

Since its founding, National Labor's strongest base of support has been among the urban working-class. The party also performs well with intellectuals and younger voters, as well as ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. Geographically, its strongest support is found in cities, university towns, and areas on the Sundering coast. The states of Norenstal and Cybria have long been NL strongholds, as well as the heavily-industrialized Dægenfjor Peninsula in eastern Førelskov. Eight of Delkora's ten largest cities are led by NL mayors.

The party's support is weakest among upper middle class and wealthy voters, older voters, and those with socially-conservative religious values. Geographically, it struggles in affluent suburban areas, small towns and rural areas.

Ideology

The National Labor constitution defines the party as a democratic socialist organization committed to "the peaceful, gradual, and democratic dismantling of capitalism by means of the political institutions and procedures of the existing Delkoran polity." NL supports as its end goal the establishment of a classless society based on common ownership of the means of production and the allocation of economic resources according to the principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

Various factions exist within the party, including social democratic, left communist, anarcho-syndicalist, and anarcho-communist groups. While these factions have generally been tolerated and allowed to maintain informal working groups within the party, officials espousing neoliberal viewpoints or others that contradict the party's fundamental tenets are subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion.

Electoral performance

List of leaders

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