Lawmakers compromise on 10 weeks of unemployment for striking workers, not 26

Striking workers in Oregon will be

limited to 10

weeks of unemployment benefits if lawmakers again OK a contentious proposal that underwent

last minute changes

this week.

Senate Bill 916

would change Oregon’s unemployment rules, allowing workers on strike to collect unemployment 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 has already passed both chambers. But on Tuesday, Senators slowed its progress with a technical vote. Four Democrats joined Republicans in saying the bill should be adjusted, including one who had previously supported it.

Senate President Rob Wagner sent the bill to an ad hoc six-member bicameral committee to find a compromise between the two chambers.

That committee gaveled in to consider how to change the bill three times but didn’t actually hold any discussions on changing the policy before they finally met to vote on it in the evening. The committee convened Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the fourth time to adopt an amendment posted just an hour and a half earlier.

The amendment restricts striking workers to 10 weeks of unemployment, rather than the 26 week maximum allowed for other unemployed workers. The former version of the bill allowed striking workers to also collect up to 26 weeks.

Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles cast the sole no vote against the amendment. His Republican counterpart on the committee, Rep. Lucetta Elmer of McMinnville, was absent because she couldn’t make it to the late evening meeting after the rounds of rescheduling.

Despite the new cap on unemployment, Bonham said he still couldn’t support the bill. Bonham said he didn’t know that the striking worker bill would be a huge draw on the state’s healthy unemployment fund, but that he still thinks that it will incentivize workers to strike.

“It’s too much to ask of the system and structure that we have in place,” Bonham said.

The bill heads back to both chambers for final approval.

“Obviously as someone who worked on this larger version of (the bill) I do feel like this is a massive compromise,” Rep. Dacia Grayber of Portland, a bill sponsor said before she voted to adopt the amendment on Wednesday. “It’s not something I’m entirely thrilled with.”

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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