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Governor signs bill allowing striking workers up to six weeks of unemployment benefits
Summary
Governor signed Senate Bill 5041, which permits workers unemployed due to a labor strike or lockout to claim up to six weeks of unemployment insurance; supporters said the measure levels the bargaining field and helps low-paid workers avoid serious financial hardship.
The governor on Monday signed Senate Bill 5041 into law, allowing individuals who are unemployed because of a labor strike or lockout to receive up to six weeks of unemployment insurance benefits.
"Allowing striking workers to access unemployment insurance benefits creates a more level playing field for workers to have the resources they need to effectively bargain for better working conditions," the governor said during a bill-signing ceremony, praising the legislation’s sponsors and labor advocates for their work.
Senator Marcus Riccelli, the bill’s prime sponsor, told attendees he was honored to lead the measure through the Legislature and thanked colleagues and staff who helped advance it. "This bill is about leveling the playing field for workers trying to exercise their right collectively, to bargain for fair wages and safe workplace conditions," Riccelli said, adding that striking is a last resort but that the law will help protect workers who take that step.
April Sims of the Washington State Labor Council thanked lawmakers and labor affiliates for supporting the measure and said the policy will help the lowest-paid workers avoid severe financial hardship during strikes. "By allowing workers to claim unemployment insurance compensation while on strike, we make a positive step towards leveling the playing field," Sims said, adding the law is intended to discourage bad-faith behavior by some employers.
Supporters framed the change as a practical tool to strengthen workers’ bargaining power rather than a substitute for negotiations. The governor noted the state is not the first to adopt such a policy but argued it will help workers in Washington and could influence other states.
The governor signed the bill using two pens and presented one to the prime sponsor; attendees applauded and posed for photos after the ceremony. The bill’s effective date was not specified during the event.
A separate bill (Senate Bill 5662) was mentioned briefly during the gathering—relating to waiving utility connection charges for certain housing projects in parts of Eastern Washington—but it was not discussed in detail at the ceremony.
