No Dire Straits for Workers Involved in Labor Disputes in N.J. as Governor Expands Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits

On Friday, August 10, 2018, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill amending the State’s unemployment insurance law to provide benefits to employees in a variety of new and, in some cases, novel circumstances. Specifically, the new law provides for unemployment insurance benefits to be paid: (a) when a labor dispute prompting the employee’s period of unemployment is caused by an employer’s failure or refusal to comply with an agreement or contract with the employee, including a collective bargaining agreement with the employee’s union, or the employer’s failure or refusal to comply with State or federal laws related to hours, wages or other conditions of work; (b) after 30 days, when unemployment is caused by a strike or other concerted activities by employees; and/or (c) immediately, when the employer of striking workers opts to hire permanent replacement workers, as permitted under the National Labor Relations Act.