A labour and social dispute has arose in the Ataraxian Confederation. The event follows Ambassador Pete Thompsett's succession and subsequent euthanasia. System programmer Guus Sims is now the incumbent Ataraxian ambassador. According to Ataraxian insiders, the dispute is not related to the recent ambassadorial succession, but rather a recent event involving the deportation of two prominent engineers for an "intimacy violation".
In response to the incident two labour unions have sprung up. The Ataraxian Committee for Progress (ACP) was the first and is being led by a group of social progressives, mainly scientists, engineers, and physicians. The Ataraxian Purity Front (APF) was the second and is being led by a group of conservatives and hardliners from a variety of occupational backgrounds.
Under the Ataraxian Constitution, sexual activity and reproduction is strictly prohibited, with the latter being punishable by death. No pregnancies have ever occurred in the Ataraxian Confederation as all residents are rendered infertile upon their conversion into Ataraxian life. Since its founding in January 4290 more than a century ago, sexual repression has never been directly challenged. Many residents cited the antisexual and antinatalist practices as being appealing. This however has slowly begun to change as the confederation has attracted more mainstream and highly educated applicants. Now under the ACP, many of these newer Ataraxians are demanding reforms.
Normally arguing for sexuality or reproduction would be illegal under Ataraxian law, but this time it is being argued from a scientific perspective. Under the Ataraxian Constitution, matters of science are not up for debate, but rather evidence. The ACP has allegedly gathered numerous scientific studies supporting the inclusion of sexual activity and reproduction in society. The APF however says that more than a hundred years of social stability proves the system works. Since this dispute is outside of normal Ataraxian politics given that it involves independent labour unions, debates have been unofficial and unorthodoxly fierce. Ataraxian law permits the formation of labour unions, although this is the first time in Ataraxian history that such organizations have formed independent of the Ataraxian government.
Ambassador Guus Sims was asked what the Ataraxian Council's position is on this dispute:
Sims wrote:This is between two independent labour unions, the Council has nothing to say on this at this time.