In today’s news and commentary, a Washington bill giving unemployment benefits to striking workers goes to the governor, the MLBPA discloses its legal expenses, and two former Twitter employees seek class certification for a gender bias lawsuit.

On Saturday, the Washington state legislature sent SB 5041 to Governor Bob Ferguson’s desk. If signed, this law would allow striking workers to receive unemployment benefits for up to six weeks. Republicans oppose the bill, arguing it will incentivize strike action and result in higher costs for businesses. Benefits would need to be repaid if the strike is later deemed illegal. The bill’s future is uncertain—a few states have similar programs, but efforts elsewhere have been met with opposition. Governor Ferguson has remained silent on the issue. 

According to a recent filing with the Department of Labor, the Major League Baseball Players Association tripled its annual legal expenses in 2024 to nearly $5.2 million. The disclosure is the first to detail salaries and legal expenses for both the union and its for-profit subsidiary. It comes following tensions and disputes last year over the union’s direction, leadership, and financial transparency. The increase is likely due to preparations for new collective bargaining talks following the expiration of their current agreement in 2026. Earlier this year, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark said that he expects a difficult negotiation process and a lockout that may delay the season. The increase may also be in part spurred by the MLBPA’s growth, most notably its addition of minor league players in 2022. 

Two former employees of Twitter, since renamed X, are seeking class certification for their lawsuit alleging gender discrimination during the company’s mass layoffs. If successful, the motion would establish a class of 1,305 female ex-employees who could recover pending settlement or victory at trial. The motion is the third of its kind and claims to have the characteristics necessary to survive class certification, citing common and predominant questions that apply to all female ex-employees. These include otherwise unexplainable gender disparities in those who were laid off and “critical evidence” of “Musk’s animus toward women.” Class certification would mark another loss to Musk in the flurry of litigation that has followed his takeover and would likely increase pressure to settle.