Arrr! Them blue state scalawags be wantin' to bestow unemployment booty upon them workers who be've decided to mutiny!
2023-08-22
Avast ye! This scurvy dog, Rob Moutrie, be raisin' his voice against a blasted law that'd be givin' lazy landlubber workers in California, who be on strike, the privilege of unemployment benefits. Blast me barnacles!
A group of California Democrats are proposing a plan to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers. The plan would allow striking workers to receive benefits from California's unemployment insurance program, which is currently $18 billion in debt. This move comes as both screenwriters and actors go on historic strikes, causing many movies and TV shows to halt production.The proposed legislation has drawn opposition from groups like the California Chamber of Commerce, who argue that striking workers are not in the same position as those who have been let go from their jobs. They believe that labor advocates are taking advantage of the strike to push through a policy they have wanted for years.
Former state Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez introduced similar legislation in 2019, but it failed to become law. Critics argue that California already has the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation and is last in wage growth, so providing more ways for people not to work is not the solution.
California's unemployment system has faced significant challenges, including fraudulent claims paid out during the pandemic. The state defaulted on a nearly $20 billion loan from the federal government due to mismanagement.
The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced by Senate Appropriations Chair Anthony Portantino and co-authored by Democratic Assembly Members Laura Friedman and Chris Holden. Portantino has expressed his support for the bill, stating that it aims to help hardworking Californians during a time of unrest.
However, opponents argue that this legislation would place an indirect tax on every employer in California, as businesses would be forced to fund the strikers through taxes paid per employee. They believe this is a fairness issue for employers who have never had employees on strike.
At this time, Assembly Members Laura Friedman and Chris Holden have not commented on the proposed legislation.