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Senate Bill 5041would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers, fundamentally altering the purpose of unemployment insurance, which is meant to provide temporary income to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Striking is a voluntary action, and requiring businesses to cover the costs of that choice is unfair.
Forces businesses to fund worker strikes: Employers bear the full cost of unemployment benefits, with some expenses shared among all businesses and others tied to an employer’s individual experience rate—the number of former employees who collect benefits. Unemployment insurance is traditionally intended for workers who lose their jobs due to layoffs or circumstances beyond their control. This bill would undermine that principle by allowing workers who choose to strike to receive benefits, placing additional financial strain on businesses already struggling with Washington’s rising costs.
A dangerous precedent for labor disputes: SB 5041 would insert the state into private labor negotiations, tilting the balance in favor of unions and incentivizing longer, more frequent strikes. By offering unemployment benefits to striking workers, the bill would encourage labor disruptions while unfairly penalizing employers for disputes outside their control. If enacted, it would set a precedent that further destabilizes Washington’s business climate and erodes the original intent of unemployment insurance.
Senate Bill 5041would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers, fundamentally altering the purpose of unemployment insurance, which is meant to provide temporary income to individuals who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Striking is a voluntary action, and requiring businesses to cover the costs of that choice is unfair.
Forces businesses to fund worker strikes: Employers bear the full cost of unemployment benefits, with some expenses shared among all businesses and others tied to an employer’s individual experience rate—the number of former employees who collect benefits. Unemployment insurance is traditionally intended for workers who lose their jobs due to layoffs or circumstances beyond their control. This bill would undermine that principle by allowing workers who choose to strike to receive benefits, placing additional financial strain on businesses already struggling with Washington’s rising costs.
A dangerous precedent for labor disputes: SB 5041 would insert the state into private labor negotiations, tilting the balance in favor of unions and incentivizing longer, more frequent strikes. By offering unemployment benefits to striking workers, the bill would encourage labor disruptions while unfairly penalizing employers for disputes outside their control. If enacted, it would set a precedent that further destabilizes Washington’s business climate and erodes the original intent of unemployment insurance.
