In the event of layoffs, Local 21 contracts provide protection to union-represented employees by setting out rules for how layoffs proceed. These rules vary depending on the specific needs of employees in different workplaces, but all of our contracts include language which ensures that any layoffs proceed fairly and equitably.

For those who are laid off, Washington State law grants workers the right to receive unemployment compensation in the event they lose their job through no fault of their own. Unemployment is funded by employers through payroll taxes. Weekly unemployment benefits can help laid-off workers meet expenses until finding a new job.