Washington Governor Signs SPEEA-backed Unemployment Insurance Bill into Law

OLYMPIA, Wash -- Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, on May 19, signed a bill that extends unemployment insurance benefits to striking workers.

With his signature, Washington became the third state (behind New York and New Jersey) to give strikers a financial lifeline.

“Allowing striking workers to access unemployment insurance benefits creates a more level playing field for workers to have the resources they need to effectively bargain for better working conditions,” Ferguson said before putting his signature on Senate Bill 5041.

The bill, which grants six weeks of unemployment benefits to striking or locked-out workers after two weeks of a labor stoppage, was strongly supported by SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001.

The bill will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. SPEEA’s Northwest Prof and Tech bargaining units will negotiate new contracts with Boeing later in the year. The separate contracts for the two bargaining units expire in October 2026.

Hundreds of SPEEA members called or sent emails to their state legislators during the recently concluded session, and dozens visited Olympia in person to urge their elected officials to support the bill, noted SPEEA Legislative Director Brandon Anderson.

“Lawmakers told us they were hearing from workers in their districts, including SPEEA members, and that steady engagement played an important role in moving this bill forward,” he said.

“This was a big win for labor and for SPEEA,” said SPEEA President John Dimas. “This is a fantastic example of what can happen when we, as workers, come together in solidarity.”

Dimas led a delegation of SPEEA Legislative & Public Affairs Committee members who had worked on passing the bill to the May 19 signing ceremony in the Governor’s Office at the Washington State Capitol.

Washington State Standard - https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/05/19/washington-will-pay-unemployment-benefits-to-striking-workers/