Bill H.338 proposes to amend the unemployment compensation laws in Vermont to allow striking workers to receive benefits under certain conditions. Specifically, it modifies the disqualification criteria for unemployment benefits related to labor disputes. The bill removes the previous stipulation that disqualified individuals from receiving benefits if their unemployment was due to a work stoppage caused by a labor dispute. Instead, it introduces new provisions that state no disqualification will apply if the individual is not involved in the labor dispute, if the work stoppage is solely due to a lockout by the employer, or after the first 14 days of unemployment due to a labor dispute, provided that the employer has not hired replacement workers during that period.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the waiting period for benefits does not apply if the employer engages replacement workers, ensuring that striking workers can access unemployment compensation more readily. The act is set to take effect upon passage, reflecting a significant shift in the state's approach to supporting workers during labor disputes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 21-1344