California Senate Committee Advances Local Senator’s Bill to Extend Unemployment Benefits to Striking Workers

The California Senate’s Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee has approved SB 1116, a bill authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino, who represents Pasadena, that aims to extend unemployment insurance benefits to striking workers. This significant step in the legislative process indicates a growing momentum in support of labor rights and economic security for workers across the state.

Joined by leaders from the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO and Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Senator Portantino emphasized the necessity of SB 1116 during a press conference on Wednesday.

“Workers do not go on strike because they want to – they generally do it as a last resort,” Portantino said. “SB 1116 helps California’s workers keep food on their table and provides financial security for their families. I am grateful to the broad coalition labor advocates who are supporting this sensible effort to help employees and our economy during a time of significant workforce and labor unrest.”

Existing law bars striking workers from accessing unemployment insurance (UI) benefits – a limitation that poses a significant hurdle for workers striving to improve their working conditions.

“Unemployment Insurance is an earned benefit for workers, created to ensure they don’t go hungry, bankrupt, or lose their homes because they are temporarily out of work,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, leader of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. “There is no reason to punish workers forced to go on strike by excluding them from this protection. It’s time we end this unfair exclusion as multiple other states have already done.”

SB 1116 supplements recent legislative efforts, such as AB 2530, which provided subsidized health coverage to striking workers. While AB 2530 offered crucial support to workers, it did not address the loss of income during labor disputes. SB 1116 aims to fill this gap by enabling striking or locked-out workers to access UI benefits throughout the duration of the conflict.

Funding for the UI system, which forms the backbone of SB 1116, is derived from payroll taxes paid by employers. However, the current taxable wage base in California, set at $7,000, stands as one of the lowest in the country. Drawing parallels with states like New York and New Jersey, where striking workers are eligible for UI benefits, advocates say SB 1116 represents a fundamental step towards aligning labor policies with evolving standards.

SB 1116 enjoys widespread support from a diverse coalition of organizations, including the California IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) Council, California State Legislative Board of the SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail Transportation) Transportation Division,  the AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), California Association of Psychiatric Technicians, California Nurses Association, California Professional Firefighters, California State University Employees Union, California Teachers Association, and various other labor unions and advocacy groups.