Unemployment benefits for striking workers are close to becoming law in Washington after a compromise proposal cleared the state House and Senate.
Striking workers could expect to receive the benefits for up to six weeks under the legislation.
Senate Bill 5041 now awaits a signature from Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, who has remained silent on his position on the bill.
Earlier in the legislative session, the Senate approved a 12-week limit on striking workers receiving the benefits, and the House approved four weeks. Typically, unemployment insurance is available for up to 26 weeks a year.
Both chambers approved the six-week proposal on Friday.
“I think really the only changes to this are that it went to six weeks and I think it’s a nice compromise,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane.
Republicans still oppose the bill, arguing that it will encourage more workers to go on strike and result in higher costs for businesses.
“When you look at how this is going to work in a large, long-term strike, I think everybody’s going to pay at some level, and that just seems frankly unfair to me,” said Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia.
Workers would be eligible for unemployment benefits starting the second Sunday after a strike begins, plus a one-week waiting period.
The benefits would also be extended to workers affected by an employer-initiated lockout, something labor advocates point to as a tactic businesses can use to put pressure on workers during contract negotiations.
Benefits would have to be repaid if a strike is determined to be prohibited by state or federal law.
The bill would require the state’s Employment Security Department to submit annual reports to the Legislature with data on the prevalence of strikes in the state and the cost of benefits for striking workers for Washington’s unemployment insurance trust fund.
If it becomes law, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and is set to expire Dec. 31, 2035. Washington would join New York and New Jersey, which already provide unemployment insurance for striking workers.
