Republican Washington Senator Judy Warnick expressed opposition to a bill that would extend unemployment insurance benefits to striking workers, saying she felt it would disincentivize people negotiating in good faith while on strike.
March 4, 2025
Stories this photo appears in:
WA lawmakers consider extending unemployment to striking workers
OLYMPIA - Washington lawmakers are revisiting a bill that would extend unemployment insurance to workers on strike. The bill was reintroduced this year by Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, reviving debate among labor advocates and business associations. “Without a social safety net during a strike, workers are faced with tremendous pressures to end the strike quickly or never go on strike in the first place,” Riccelli said in public testimony. “I think this levels the playing field.”