Legislation to Improve Unemployment Insurance Benefits for Striking Workers Passes General Assembly
We commend and thank the General Assembly for passing A4772 (Verrelli D-15/ Egan D-17/ DeAngelo D-14) which concerns unemployment insurance benefits during labor disputes. Assemblymembers Sampson (D-31), Moriarty (D-4), Danielsen (D-17) and Benson (D-14) joined in supporting the bill as cosponsors.
The bill reduces the waiting period for striking workers to receive unemployment insurance from 4 weeks to 2 weeks.
Additionally, the bill closes several loopholes in current law that result in workers being denied unemployment insurance when they go on strike or are locked out.
Workers should not have to suffer significant financial hardships when they stand with their coworkers and fight for better wages, benefits and workplace safety conditions.
A4772 passed the Assembly by a vote of 56 to 23 with all Democrats present supporting. Republicans Barranco (R-26), Clifton (R-12), Guardian (R-2), Kean (R-30), McCarthy Patrick (R-3) Sawyer (R-3), Simonsen (R-1), Swift (R-2), Thomson (R-30), Torrissi (R-8) and Umba (R-8) joined Democrats to support the pro-worker measure.
The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration by the Senate Labor Committee.
To read our testimony in support of the bill submitted to the Assembly Labor Committee on December 8, 2022, click here.
We thank Speaker Coughlin for posting the bill for a vote today, the sponsors and cosponsors for their work to move the bill, and all of the members who voted in favor for their advocacy on behalf of New Jersey’s working families.