Unemployment for Striking Workers Heads to Gov.’s Desk

Today, the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives voted to pass a conference committee amendment to Senate Bill 916, landmark legislation that will extend unemployment benefit eligibility to striking workers. The bill will now move on to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk to be signed into law.

“Passage of SB 916 in both chambers marks a major victory for workers across Oregon,” Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor said. “Extending unemployment to striking Oregonians is a necessary step towards leveling the playing field just a notch between workers and employers.”

The Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives each voted on a conference committee amendment, which will cap unemployment benefits to 10 weeks for workers on strike in the state.

“Every Oregonian deserves a decent quality of life, and that starts with protecting our right to fight for safe working conditions, and fair wages,” Trainor said. “While CEOs and big businesses continue to make record profits, working-class Oregonians are still fighting for basic rights. Going on strike is always a last resort, and when workers do, it’s to fight for these necessities. No worker should be forced into an unfair contract that further perpetuates the ills of our society at large:  corporate greed, unsafe conditions, and a culture where we are not respecting working people for the work that ultimately makes our society run. We look forward to the Governor signing SB 916 into law as a historic step towards greater worker equity.”