House approves law letting some striking workers claim unemployment after a waiting period

The Oregon House on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 916B, a measure that would allow some eligible workers who are engaged in a lawful strike to claim unemployment insurance after a multi-week waiting period.

Supporters, led on the floor by Representative Graber, said the bill would reduce employers’ incentive to “starve out” striking workers and bring parties back to the bargaining table faster. “By allowing eligible striking workers to claim unemployment insurance if a strike persists for long enough, we remove an incentive for procedural delays,” Graber said on the floor.

Opponents — including several members representing rural districts and those who spoke for school districts and local governments — said the bill shifts costs to taxpayers and public employers, risks draining classroom resources and could change bargaining incentives. “This bill asks Oregon taxpayers to subsidize strikes, risks our competitive footing, and divert scarce education dollars,” Representative Deal said.

Nut graf: The bill changes long-standing state practice by making partial wage replacement available to striking workers under specific circumstances. Sponsors and proponents framed it as a tool to prevent protracted strikes that hurt workers, patients and students; opponents said it would create new costs for school districts and local governments that…