Latest news with #RyanBerry
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Striking worker unemployment benefit bill headed to WA governor
Mat Farnum, center, pickets outside Angel of the Winds Arena as striking Boeing employees pass through to vote on a contract Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry for Washington State Standard) Unemployment benefits for striking workers are close to becoming law in Washington after a compromise proposal cleared the state House and Senate. Striking workers could expect to receive the benefits for up to six weeks under the legislation. Senate Bill 5041 now awaits a signature from Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, who has remained silent on his position on the bill. Earlier in the legislative session, the Senate approved a 12-week limit on striking workers receiving the benefits, and the House approved four weeks. Typically, unemployment insurance is available for up to 26 weeks a year. Both chambers approved the six-week proposal on Friday. 'I think really the only changes to this are that it went to six weeks and I think it's a nice compromise,' said the bill's prime sponsor, Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane. Republicans still oppose the bill, arguing that it will encourage more workers to go on strike and result in higher costs for businesses. 'When you look at how this is going to work in a large, long-term strike, I think everybody's going to pay at some level, and that just seems frankly unfair to me,' said Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia. Workers would be eligible for unemployment benefits starting the second Sunday after a strike begins, plus a one-week waiting period. The benefits would also be extended to workers affected by an employer-initiated lockout, something labor advocates point to as a tactic businesses can use to put pressure on workers during contract negotiations. Benefits would have to be repaid if a strike is determined to be prohibited by state or federal law. The bill would require the state's Employment Security Department to submit annual reports to the Legislature with data on the prevalence of strikes in the state and the cost of benefits for striking workers for Washington's unemployment insurance trust fund. If it becomes law, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and is set to expire Dec. 31, 2035. Washington would join New York and New Jersey, which already provide unemployment insurance for striking workers.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA House and Senate reach deal on unemployment benefits for striking workers
Boeing machinists take to the picket line in front of Boeing's Paine Field facility as thousands of IAM District 751 workers began their strike on Friday, Sep. 13, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Stadnard) Lawmakers in the Washington House and Senate have struck an agreement to provide up to six weeks of unemployment insurance for striking workers. Both chambers approved Senate Bill 5041 this year to open the safety net program to striking workers, but they set different limits for the amount of time people could receive benefits. The Senate approved a 12-week limit, the House four weeks. Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, said the six-week compromise hits a 'sweet spot,' addressing concerns from businesses while leveling the playing field for low-wage workers. Labor unions and Democratic lawmakers have pressed for the bill, arguing the benefits will help striking workers afford necessities such as food and rent when negotiating for better wages and working conditions. When the bill passed the Senate last month, an amendment that would have restricted unemployment benefits to four weeks failed by one vote. Then, in mid-April, the House amended the bill ahead of a floor vote to add the four-week limit. Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, has not publicly taken a position on the bill. Under the bill, workers would become eligible for unemployment benefits on the second Sunday after a strike begins, plus a one-week waiting period. Typically, unemployment insurance is offered for up to 26 weeks a year. If a strike is determined to be prohibited by state or federal law, benefits would have to be repaid. Workers affected by employer-initiated lockouts would also be eligible for the benefits. Labor advocates point to lockouts as a tactic businesses can use to put pressure on workers during contract negotiations. New Jersey and New York are the only states that provide unemployment insurance for striking workers. Republicans opposed the bill. They, along with business groups, argue it could incentivize workers to strike and result in higher costs for businesses that could spill over onto employers not involved in labor disputes. 'If employers aren't healthy, you don't have workers and when we don't have healthy employers, we're not going to have a healthy economy,' said Rep. Suzanne Schmidt, R-Spokane Valley. The bill would also require the state's Employment Security Department to submit annual reports to the Legislature with data on the prevalence of strikes in the state and the cost of benefits for striking workers for Washington's unemployment insurance trust fund. If passed, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and is set to expire Dec. 31, 2035. Both chambers have to wait 24 hours before putting the bill up for a vote, which means it could gain final approval from the Legislature as early as Friday. The session ends Sunday.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Republicans fret they'll be left out of critical stage of budget talks
Washington state Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup is the chief budget writer for Senate Republicans. ( Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard) Negotiations on a new state budget got a step more serious Thursday. And, Republicans argue, more secretive. The state Senate voted to request that the two chambers form a conference committee for the operating budget. If the House agrees, and it will in the next few days, six lawmakers – four Democrats and two Republicans – will be charged with reconciling differences in spending plans approved in each chamber. The chief budget writers for each caucus will serve on the panel. Here's the rub for the GOP. They know employing a conference committee at this stage is pretty much standard operating procedure. They did it when they were in the majority. They also understand it isn't like other committees. It won't meet in public until there is a final version of the budget ready to be voted on. And whatever the committee delivers cannot be amended. Republicans are unlikely to be invited to many meetings. Maybe none. Democrats will huddle behind closed doors with their leadership and strike deals. They can involve Republicans at any and every step if they want, but more likely they will brief them when they feel it is necessary. 'You're going to have basically four legislators in a room likely making very dramatic changes to the operating budget, changes none of us will ever have a chance to amend,' Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, said on the Senate floor. Gildon is the lead Republican budget writer and will be a committee member. 'It is closed to the public. It is not transparent,' he said, adding 'it will further erode trust in state government.' Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Democrats' lead budget writer, disagreed with the characterization. 'The conference report process is something the Legislature does every year for the budget and other bills,' she said in a statement. 'I have worked closely with my Republican counterparts throughout the budget process and am open to discussions with them at any point going forward,' Robinson added. 'All of that is taken into consideration in negotiations.' The Senate motion to form a conference committee passed on a party-line 30-19 margin.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployment benefits for striking workers gain approval from Washington Senate
Boeing machinists take to the picket line in front of Boeing's Paine Field facility as IAM District 751 workers began their strike on Friday, Sep. 13, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard) Workers in Washington moved a step closer to gaining access to unemployment insurance during strikes, after a bill that would extend the benefits passed the state Senate on Friday. Under Senate Bill 5041, workers would become eligible for unemployment benefits on the second Sunday after a strike begins, plus a one-week waiting period. Unemployment insurance would also open up to people blocked from working by employers through lockouts — a tactic that can be used to pressure employees during labor negotiations. A similar bill won approval in the state House last year, but failed to receive a vote in the Senate. Labor unions are among the bill's backers. Supporters say the legislation would help ensure striking workers can afford necessities such as food and rent. They also argue that dragging out negotiations is becoming a more common bargaining strategy for employers. This can leave striking workers in a weakening position as they go without pay and their finances erode. 'Affordability is the number one issue for Americans right now,' said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, adding his legislation is about 'making sure people who do important jobs and important work have good benefits, good pay, safe work conditions.' The Senate approved the bill on a 28-21 vote, with Democratic Sens. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, and Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, joining Republicans in opposition. New Jersey and New York already have similar laws in place. Oregon state lawmakers are debating legislation this year that would offer unemployment benefits to striking workers there. Business groups and Republicans are opposed to the Washington bill. They've argued that the change would result in higher costs for businesses and is potentially unfair to employers and workers not involved in labor disputes. 'We're putting our businesses at a great disadvantage by passing this bill,' said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. 'We truly are. We're just driving them out of this state. We're making it impossible for them to operate here and be successful.' A Boeing factory worker strike last year that stretched nearly two months underscored concerns about extended walkouts that could lead to unemployment insurance expenses piling up. But labor advocates say strikes lasting more than two weeks are rare. The version of the bill the Senate approved included an amendment from Riccelli that would limit unemployment benefits for striking workers to 12 weeks. Normally, unemployment insurance is available for up to 26 weeks over a year. A proposed amendment from Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, that would've changed the time limit for benefits to four weeks, failed by one vote. Five Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the proposed change. Last year's bill contained a four-week limit. Riccelli's amended bill also calls for the availability of benefits to striking and locked-out workers to expire after 10 years. The bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Unemployment insurance is funded by state and federal taxes that employers pay. A sudden surge in claims can drain a state's unemployment trust fund and drive up tax rates. Taxes individual companies pay rise to cover resulting costs as more of their employees tap unemployment. This would be the case for employers whose workers are on strike. Reporter Jake Goldstein-Street and editor Bill Lucia contributed to this report.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rent cap bill moves ahead in WA Senate
Sen. Jessica Bateman, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, leads a meeting Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Washington state Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard) A bill to cap yearly rent increases cleared another obstacle in the state Senate on Wednesday. A year after a similar bill died in the Senate Housing Committee, the panel approved legislation that limits annual rent hikes to 7% for tenants across the state. Last year, one senator on the committee refused to vote yes or no on the policy, effectively killing it. This year, there are new — more progressive — faces on the committee, which helped solidify Wednesday's passage. Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, was the lone Democrat who did not approve the measure, voting 'without recommendation.' The proposal still has a ways to go before becoming law, but with the committee vote, it is becoming clearer that Democrats may have the support they need in the Legislature to get it across the finish line. Senate Bill 5222 prohibits landlords from raising rent and fees more than 7% during any 12-month period. They could set the rent at whatever level they want at the start of someone's tenancy. The bill also requires landlords to give 180 days notice before an increase of 3% or more and limits some move-in and deposit fees. There are some exceptions, including buildings operated by nonprofits and residential construction that is 10 years old or less. Supporters of the proposal say it is necessary to help keep people avoid homelessness, but opponents say it may disincentivize new development at a time when Washington needs more housing. Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, said he is sympathetic to renters who face high increases. 'But what's even worse is having housing just go away,' Goehner said. Supporters of the policy disagree with that assessment. 'We can both build more housing and stabilize tenants today,' Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, said. 'This bill simply provides some common sense guardrails that say landlords can't raise the rent to an excessive level.' The Senate bill now heads to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration. Meanwhile, in the House, where the bill passed last year, the policy has cleared two committees and is awaiting a vote on the floor.
