A bill to require California’s heavily indebted unemployment insurance fund to pay striking workers has passed the state legislature and now heads to the governor’s desk.
The Democrat-controlled Assembly passed the measure Thursday, but as of Sunday Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom had yet to sign or veto it.
Under existing law, strikers are not eligible for unemployment benefits until the strike is over.
If Governor Newsom signs the bill into law, strikers would be eligible for receiving unemployment benefits two weeks into a strike. Supporters specifically cited the ongoing Hollywood strike and the Unite Local 11 hospitality strikes in justifying the bill.