A invoice that would offer unemployment insurance coverage to hanging staff in California handed the state Meeting on Monday and now’s headed to the Senate Labor Committee after which to the Senate ground. If handed there, Senate Invoice 799 would go to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The same invoice handed the Meeting in 2019 however failed within the Senate by two votes.
The invoice has acquired the backing of the Writers Guild, which has been on strike since Could 2, and SAG-AFTRA, which has been hanging since July 14. Strikers in New York and New Jersey are entitled to gather unemployment advantages after two weeks on the picket line, however these in California aren’t eligible as a result of they’re thought-about to have left their jobs “voluntarily.”
“California is seeing an unprecedented variety of hanging staff who’re going through important uncertainty in regards to the economics of their industries and altering enterprise fashions,” State Sen. Anthony Portantino, who authored the invoice, mentioned right now. “From writers to resort staff and allies, they’re demonstrating unity and power whereas demanding respect and truthful compensation. It’s essential that the employees have a seat on the desk to barter their future and the well-being of their households. A terrific group of labor advocates have labored tirelessly on this effort and deserve our appreciation.”
SB 799, he mentioned, “will assist staff put meals on their desk once they want it most — in the course of these essential labor negotiations. California has at all times been a pacesetter in defending staff’ rights and its time guarantee hanging staff have the unemployment advantages that different unemployed staff are entitled to. We look ahead to getting this invoice on the governor’s desk.”
Talking at a rally final week in assist of the invoice, WGA West President Meredith Stiehm mentioned: “In case you lose your job or get laid off, you’ll be able to apply for unemployment advantages. Sadly, we are able to’t do this. Individuals on strike can’t do this in California. They will in New York. Our sister union within the East is ready to try this. And so, it’s one thing that we have to catch as much as, and it’s one thing that might have helped us if we had it in place prior to now.”
SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, who like Stiehm testified not too long ago in Sacramento for the invoice’s passage, advised picketers final week: “Our survival shouldn’t rely upon the whims and fragile egos of would-be dictators. And offering a lifeline for hanging staff within the type of unemployment insurance coverage helps to degree the taking part in subject in a small manner. Withholding our labor from exploitive employers is our proper, and we shouldn’t need to court docket monetary spoil to train that proper. If corporations can solely get staff to return to their jobs by ravenous them into submission, then one thing may be very unsuitable with their enterprise mannequin.”
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Writers Guild Strike
