A controversial bill in Oregon that would provide weekly unemployment benefits to striking workers faced an unexpected hurdle when a crucial legislator withdrew his support. In an effort to resuscitate the bill, lawmakers may now examine cutting the total benefits that workers are entitled to. Senate Bill 916 was initially supported by State Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, but a minor amendment in the House led to its return to the Senate for additional approval. However, the bill did not pass, with a voting result of 15-14.

Sens. Jeff Golden from Ashland, Janeen Sollman from Hillsboro, Courtney Neron Misslin from Wilsonville, and Sen. Mark Meek, all Democrats, voted against the bill alongside the Republicans. Among them, only Meek, a bill sponsor, altered his stance. Golden and Sollman were long-term opponents of the proposal, fearing adverse impacts on local governments and school districts. Neron Misslin was not part of the Senate during SB 916’s first assessment.

If passed, SB 916 would have established Oregon as the first US state to provide both public and private sector employees with weekly unemployment benefits while on a strike. Advocates of the bill argue that it offers a fair deal for workers by counterbalancing employers who take advantage of strikes by making their employees accept sub-par contract terms due to their financial needs. In contrast, businesses, local governments, and school districts have criticized the bill, warning it could potentially lead to prolonged strikes and add stress to the state’s $6.4 billion Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

At the closing stages of the debates on SB 916, another point of contention was raised: Oregon should not approve a bill diverging significantly from the law in Washington. Previous legislation passed in Washington limited unemployment benefits for striking workers to six weeks and would automatically expire by the end of 2035. Oregon’s proposed law, on the other hand, provided benefits for up to 26 weeks and did not have an expiration date.

While navigating this complicated legislative landscape, if you are an individual in Oregon seeking benefits or have questions regarding unemployment, remember help is available. The eddcaller.com site offers a wealth of information about how to get through to edd, how to contact edd, and about edd customer service. It can help you understand the best ways of contacting the Employment Development Department and offer tips on getting assistance smoothly.