Rewarding union donors at the cost of business, schools

By Oregon House Republican Caucus
June 4th, 2025

Today, House Democrats passed Senate Bill 916 B, making Oregon the first state in the nation to allow public employees to receive unemployment benefits while on strike.

House Republicans offered a commonsense Minority Report which would have aligned Oregon with Washington State – with the major caveat that public employees are barred from striking in Washington, but not in Oregon. This proposal would have:

• Added a two-week disqualification period with a one-week waiting period.
• Capped the number of weeks benefits could be received to six weeks.
• Required the Oregon Employment Department to annually report to the Legislature on the prevalence of strikes and the cost of benefits for striking workers.
• Ensured that the measure would only be effective until 2035 to examine its effectiveness.

This move follows cries from superintendents of Oregon’s largest school districts who wrote a letter to all the members of the House of Representatives, asking them to oppose this bill.

“Today, House Democrats ignored the voices of their own superintendents, business leaders, and local governments to reward powerful Oregon unions,” said Representative Elmer (R-McMinnville). “House Republicans offered a good faith Minority Report to align this legislation with Washington – a state leading Oregon not just in business friendliness, but also in education. To say I am disappointed by today’s vote is an understatement.”

“With this move, Democrats are harming Oregon students, who are woefully behind in test scores and graduation rates, and leading in chronic absenteeism, while also unfairly painting our hardworking school board members as the bad guys when the responsibility lies with the Legislature,” said Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport). “This bill also disproportionately threatens small businesses, many of which are already struggling to stay afloat with Oregon’s high taxes and regulatory environment.”