Strike Pay: Washington’s Bold Labor Shift | Seattle News

Washington state just handed out over half a million dollars in unemployment benefits to striking workers — a bold new policy that lets union members collect for up to six weeks during labor disputes. Since its January rollout, 138 workers have cashed in, mostly at the Embassy Suites in Seattle, who’re fighting for better pay and healthcare. Critics, mostly Republicans, warned it would fuel strikes and hurt businesses, but Democrats pushed it through to give low-wage workers a lifeline during walkouts. The state is now monitoring the impact closely, with potential tax hikes on businesses looming if the unemployment fund gets strained — a major shift in how labor disputes are handled in the state. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c6406b544dc2702f