As the Hollywood writers’ strike enters its fourth month, California is considering providing unemployment benefits to workers on strike

These days, there is no shortage of labor organizing in California.

These days, there is no shortage of labor organizing in California. (Photo: Yahoo News)

There were 12 additional active strikes in the state during July

In a report from Business Insider, 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America are also on strike, and around 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members have been for more than a month.

According to the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Labor Action Tracker, there were 12 additional active strikes in the state during July, making California the most active state for labor actions.

How long strikers may go without a payment is one of the greatest issues when a union decides to go on strike. Nevertheless, if certain California lawmakers get their way, that issue might become less of a problem.

A bill that would make any striking employees in the state eligible for unemployment benefits if their action lasts more than two weeks is currently being considered by lawmakers.

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The bill may signal a turning point for California’s workforce

If it is approved, California would become the third state in the US to do so, joining New York and New Jersey in doing so. Massachusetts and Connecticut are also looking at bills similar to this one.

According to labor experts, the bill may signal a turning point for California’s workforce.

Yahoo News reported that, it will undoubtedly be a pro-labor statement during a time of the year when so many Californians have gone on strike and are suffering, according to Insider’s interview with Steven Greenhouse, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation and a veteran labor correspondent for the New York Times. They will undoubtedly benefit from this, and it could even boost California’s economy by putting more money in people’s pockets.

The measure stipulates that striking employees would be entitled to payments of up to $450 per week. Striking workers can now earn up to $504 per week in New York and up to $830 per week in New Jersey.

In April, New Jersey changed its statute, reducing the 30-day waiting period for compensation to begin for workers who are on strike to only 14 hours.

According to Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, having access to unemployment benefits for striking workers in California would also benefit the greater community. 

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