Pa. Labor & Industry Committee advances bill allowing striking workers to collect unemployment benefits

House Bill 145, which would amend Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation law to allow individuals impacted by a work stoppage to collect unemployment compensation (UC), was favorably reported out of the House Labor & Industry Committee after a 14-12 roll-call vote.

The measure drew partisan and philosophical debate during the committee meeting. Committee staff member Ryan summarized the bill’s effect: "House Bill 145 amends the unemployment compensation law to allow individuals impacted by any work stoppage to collect UC benefits." Proponents said the change would support workers who withhold labor to press for better wages and conditions; opponents warned it could create economic disincentives and make the Commonwealth less attractive to employers.

Representative Kroejewski, the bill’s prime sponsor, framed the proposal…