A major win for union members is heading to the governor’s office for signature.

The Washington State Standard reports:

“Unemployment benefits for striking workers are close to becoming law in Washington after a compromise proposal cleared the state House and Senate.

Striking workers could expect to receive the benefits for up to six weeks under the legislation.

Senate Bill 5041 now awaits a signature from Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, who has remained silent on his position on the bill.

Earlier in the legislative session, the Senate approved a 12-week limit on striking workers receiving the benefits, and the House approved four weeks. Typically, unemployment insurance is available for up to 26 weeks a year.

Both chambers approved the six-week proposal on Friday.

‘I think really the only changes to this are that it went to six weeks and I think it’s a nice compromise,’ said the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane.

Republicans still oppose the bill, arguing that it will encourage more workers to go on strike and ​​result in higher costs for businesses.

‘When you look at how this is going to work in a large, long-term strike, I think everybody’s going to pay at some level, and that just seems frankly unfair to me,’ said Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia.”

For the rest of the story, visit the Washington State Standard here.