Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB916: Relating to unemployment insurance benefits for employees unemployed due to a labor dispute.
Status: In committee, July 2, 2025
Digest: The Act would repeal the law that denies UI benefits to a person who is unemployed due to an active labor dispute. The Act would make it so that striking workers have an extra unpaid week before they qualify for benefits, which are subject to a possible limit based on the UI tax schedule at the time. The Act would require benefits to be paid back if they are overpaid due to the worker's later receipt of back pay. The Act would make a school district deduct from a worker's future wages benefits charged for weeks during a labor dispute. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3). Provides that an individual otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits is not disqualified for any week that the individual's unemployment is due to a labor dispute in active progress at the individual's place of employment. Provides that individuals unemployed due to a strike are disqualified for benefits for one week before eligibility begins, with the usual unpaid waiting week, subject to a [ possible ] limit based on the tax schedule in effect at the time. Provides for the collection of benefits overpaid during a strike due to the later receipt of back pay. Requires a school district to deduct from an employee's future wages benefits charged for weeks during a labor dispute.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, June 12, 2025:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session Senate Bill 916 Sponsored by Senator TAYLOR, Representatives GRAYBER, BOWMAN, Senators CAMPOS, MANNING JR; Senators GORSEK, JAMA, MEEK, PATTERSON, Representatives CHAICHI, FRAGALA, GAMBA, HUDSON, MUNOZ, NELSON, NGUYEN H, NOSSE, SOSA (at the request of AFL-CIO) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to unemployment insurance benefits for employees unemployed due to a labor dispute; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 657.010, 657.153, 657.176, 657.200, 657.202, 657.310, 657.317 and 657.400. SECTION 1. ORS 657.200 is amended to read: 657.200. (1) [An individual is disqualified for benefits] Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating to availability for work, actively seeking work or refusal to accept suitable work, an individual who is otherwise eligible for benefits is not disqualified for benefits or waiting week credit for any week with respect to which the Director of the Employment Department finds that the unemployment of the individual is due to a [labor dispute] lockout that is in active progress at the factory, establishment or other premises at which the individual is or was last employed or at which the individual claims employment rights by union agreement or otherwise. (2)(a) An individual is disqualified for benefits for the first week with respect to which the Director of the Employment Department finds that the unemployment of the individual is due to a strike that is …