1893-S AMH WALJ LEON 876
SHB 1893 - H AMD 971
By Representative Walsh
NOT ADOPTED 02/13/2024
On page 4, beginning on line 33, strike all of subsection (k)
On page 6, after line 39, insert the following:
"(6) If an individual's unemployment is due to a strike at the separating employer's factory, establishment, or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed, the benefit payments may not be charged to the experience rating account of any employer, and may not be factored into the social cost factor for the total taxable payroll for purposes of RCW 50.29.025. The benefit payments must be paid in accordance with section 4 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 50.16 RCW to read as follows:
The striking worker benefit account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Funds in the account must consist of all contributions collected under section 4 of this act, appropriations and transfers by the legislature, and all other funding directed for deposit into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for providing benefits under section 5 of this act. Only the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 50.24 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall adopt rules establishing requirements for collecting contributions from employees who are members of collective bargaining units to be deposited into the fund under section 3 of this act for the purposes of paying benefits under section 5 of this act. The department shall establish a rate for contributions based on an estimate of the benefits projected to be paid to striking workers under section 5 of this act. The rate must be based on a percentage of monthly dues paid to bargaining unit representatives.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 50.20 RCW to read as follows:
If an individual's unemployment is due to a strike at the separating employer's factory, establishment, or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed, those benefit payments must be paid from the account under section 3 of this act. Benefits are subject to the availability of funds."
Renumber the remaining section consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly. Correct the title.
| EFFECT: Requires unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for striking workers to be paid from contributions collected from unionized workers. Requires the Employment Security Department to adopt rules to establish requirements for setting a rate for contributions and for collecting contributions from unionized workers. Requires the rate to be a percentage of monthly union dues. Establishes the Striking Worker Benefit Account, which must of consist of worker contributions and appropriations and transfers by the Legislature. Excludes UI benefits paid to striking workers from being factored into UI payroll taxes. |
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