Bill to allow 10 weeks of unemployment for striking workers heads to Kotek’s desk

A bill to allow unemployment for striking workers cleared both chambers of the Legislature Thursday after

last-minute amendments

and

drama

.

Senate Bill 916

would change Oregon’s unemployment rules, allowing workers on strike to collect 10 weeks of unemployment benefits after a two week waiting period.

The hotly contested bill has the backing of powerful union groups and most Democrats, who argue that it levels the playing field between workers and employers in union negotiations by ensuring workers could still provide for their families if they go on strike. But it is opposed by Republicans, cities and school boards, which argue it will be expensive to implement and will likely result in more frequent and longer strikes.

The bill looked like a sure bet last week, when it passed the House of Representatives because the Senate had already approved it in a nearly identical form. After an amendment in the House, the Senate had to again give the bill a thumbs up. But it didn’t – in a bit of a surprise, senators detoured the bill to a committee for adjustment. That committee agreed on Wednesday evening to change the bill to allow striking workers to collect only 10 weeks of unemployment, not 26 as allowed under the earlier versions.

Senators voted Thursday morning to adopt the 10-week bill on a vote of 16-12. Democrats Jeff Golden of Ashland and Janeen Sollman of Forest Grove joined Republicans in voting against the bill – as they had twice before – but the amendments won over Democrats Mark Meek of Gladstone and Courtney Neron Misslin from Wilsonville,

whose vote

s against the bill on Tuesday and sent the measure to committee.

The House approved the bill on a vote of 35-22, despite a few attempts by House Republicans to delay or prevent the vote. Democrat John Lively of Springfield, who had voted against the bill in its original format, approved the measure with the 10 week benefit cap.

The bill’s unusual path through House and Senate chambers muted the victory somewhat for labor unions and Democrats who championed it. The amendment that capped benefits for striking workers at 10 weeks instead of the original 26 didn’t completely satisfy politicians on either side.

Republicans again spoke against the bill, saying the 10 week cap wasn’t enough of a compromise. Several argued that children will suffer because the bill may increase the likelihood that teachers will strike, and students will be out of the classroom.

“This is bad policy. It’s going to be harmful to our students. It’s going to be harmful to the state,” Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham said Thursday.

Dacia Grayber, Oregon State Representative (Democrat – District 28), spoke to striking Boeing workers as they rallied outside of the Boeing facility on NE Sandy Blvd. in Portland the morning of Thurs., Sept. 19, 2024.

Dave Killen / The Oregonian

Rep. Dacia Grayber, a Portland Democrat and a chief sponsor of the bill, argued opponents were using their worst fears as a “lightning rod.” Despite recent strikes affecting more than 100 Oregon schools, She claimed that only a slim minority of the state’s schools have ever had a strike.

Grayber told her colleagues that she was disappointed that the final version of the bill removed four months worth of unemployment eligibility for striking workers, but she urged them to approve it regardless.

“We are preserving the right to ensure that workers are not starved out, that they can put food on their table, spend money in their local community and (cover) their health care costs,” while on strike, she said.

Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at


sedge@oregonian.com


or (503) 260-3430.

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