Striking members of the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA in New York and New Jersey have a significant financial advantage over their counterparts in California and other states. Unlike in California, where strikers are not eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, New York strikers can receive up to $504 a week for 26 weeks, and New Jersey strikers can receive up to $830 a week for the same duration.
Lorena Gonzalez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer and Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, finds this discrepancy “shameful.” In 2019, she introduced a bill that would have granted unemployment insurance to strikers, but it failed in the Senate by two votes. With the legislature reconvening soon, Gonzalez believes it’s the right time for lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to revisit the issue.
Gonzalez emphasizes the importance of supporting striking workers and ensuring they can make ends meet without facing homelessness. She argues that these workers have earned their unemployment insurance and that employers have already contributed to it. She urges legislators to address this gap and provide the necessary support to striking workers.
The current policy in California disqualifies claimants who voluntarily leave their jobs due to a trade dispute. Gonzalez believes it’s time to correct this longstanding problem and align California with states like New York and New Jersey.
Gonzalez’s bill faced opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce and the Editorial Board of the Los Angeles Times. However, she remains hopeful that California will prioritize the well-being of workers and follow the lead of other states.
Gonzalez acknowledges the challenges faced in advocating for labor rights, particularly when opposed by powerful business interests. She believes that editorial boards often fail to represent the needs of workers, as they are often influenced by hedge funds and corporate backers.
Despite the obstacles, Gonzalez and others in the labor movement are optimistic that California will eventually provide unemployment insurance to strikers, especially considering recent legislation that grants affordable healthcare to low-income strikers.
Historically, New York has allowed workers to collect unemployment benefits during a strike, albeit with an eight-week waiting period. However, a bill signed into law in February 2020 reduced the waiting period to just two weeks.
New Jersey also expanded the circumstances under which striking workers can receive unemployment insurance benefits. Gonzalez hopes that California will follow suit and find a way to support striking workers.
In conclusion, Gonzalez believes that where there’s a will, there’s a way, and she remains committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of workers in California.
