Paying unemployment benefits to striking workers is poor public policy

Washington State Legislators worked through the night Monday to pass a controversial bill that would allow unemployment benefits to be paid to workers who are on strike.

HB 1893 passed the Washington State House 53-44.  It is notable that there was bipartisan opposition to the idea.

This legislation – which would permit unemployment benefits for striking workers – provides all the wrong incentives to get employees back on the job as quickly as possible. And, because businesses pay unemployment taxes, they would be financially supplementing work stoppages of their own employees.

According to Cornell University, Washington already ranks in the top five in the states that are home to the most strikes each year. This proposed law likely only increases the number of work stoppages in the future.

California lawmakers passed similar legislation last year, only to see the measure vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom over cost concerns.