California Considers Unemployment Aid For Striking Workers Amid Hollywood Walkouts

As labor strikes in California, including a four-month walkout by Hollywood writers, continue, state lawmakers are mulling over the possibility of providing striking workers with unemployment benefits, Business Insider reported.

Around 160,000 SAG-AFTRA and 11,500 Writers Guild of America members have been striking in recent times. As per the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations Labor Action Tracker, California led the nation in labor actions in July.

The proposed legislation would make striking workers, whose action lasts over two weeks, eligible for unemployment benefits. If passed, California would become the third state after New York and New Jersey with such a policy. The bill could potentially mark a significant turning point for California's workers.

Steven Greenhouse, a former New York Times labor reporter and senior fellow at the Century Foundation, emphasized the bill’s potential impact.

“It will very much be a pro-labor statement at a time in a year when so many Californians have gone on strike and are hurting,” he said.

However, the proposal has faced criticism. Policy advocate Robert Moutrie from the California Chamber of Commerce called the proposal “irresponsible” and warned it could burden employers across the state.

Read Next: Netflix Could Have Secret Weapon To Manage The Hollywood Strikes: Cooking Shows And A New Restaurant?

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