Oregon Senate Democrats passed Senate Bill 916 along partisan lines, and rejected a common-sense minority report that would have protected small businesses, schools, hospitals, and taxpayers from being forced to subsidize private labor disputes.

Under SB 916, striking workers, including public employees, will now be eligible to collect unemployment benefits after two weeks, making Oregon the first state in the nation to take this extreme step. While only New York and New Jersey allow striking workers to receive unemployment benefits, no state has ever applied this policy to public employees until now.

“Unemployment benefits were never meant to bankroll labor strikes,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “This bill rewrites the rules to reward political allies at the direct expense of small businesses, healthcare facilities, and schools, many of which are already struggling with workforce shortages and rising costs. Democrats had the opportunity to support a balanced alternative that ensured fairness and financial responsibility, but instead, they pushed through a bill that prioritizes special interests over working Oregonians.”

The minority report, which Senate Republicans proposed, would have required a four-week waiting period before striking workers could receive benefits, ensured repayment of funds with interest, and required unions to maintain adequate strike funds before members could access taxpayer-supported benefits. It also reinforced long-standing Oregon law prohibiting public employees from striking, mirroring Taylor’s Law in New York. Instead, Senate Democrats rejected these protections and voted to make Oregon an outlier in the country.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

"Employers have the upper hand over workers when it comes to pay, scheduling, and job conditions,” said Senator James I. Manning, Jr. (D - Eugene, Veneta, Elmira), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “The right to strike, negotiate, and collectively bargain is the most powerful instrument the workforce has for offsetting this imbalance; Senate Bill 916 levels the playing field and helps maintain that right.”

“This isn’t just bad policy, it’s unfair to every Oregonian who is expected to show up for work every day,” said Senator Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook). “A strike is a choice, not an unforeseen layoff or business closure. People who voluntarily walk off the job should not be entitled to the same benefits as those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.”

It is not unlike Measure 113, which voters passed in 2022 limiting legislators unexcused absences to 10 days. The consequence is that they can not run for reelection in the next election. Voters insist they show up to work to do the people's business. Shouldn't state employees be held to the same standard?

The bill assumes that the labor unions representing striking workers who received UI benefits will repay all the benefit payments over time. However, Oregon Employment (OED) is of the opinion that some of the provisions in the measure could place OED out of conformity with federal law governing Unemployment Insurance (UI). If Oregon were to be found non-conforming with federal law, Oregon employers would lose federal credits for UI tax paying employers. OED estimates that non-conformity would result in additional UI taxes of $1.16 billion per biennium paid by Oregon’s UI tax paying employers.

Senate Republicans unanimously voted no on this costly measure. Isn't it leadership's responsibility to make sure bills do not conflict with federal requirements before putting the state in jeopardy? SB 916 now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives for further consideration.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-25 21:56:09

Last Update: 2025-03-25 23:39:56