Can laid off union workers collect unemployment through Washington ESD?

Yes, union workers can definitely collect unemployment benefits in Washington. Your union status doesn't disqualify you from filing. You should file directly with Washington ESD at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible after your last day of work. Don't wait for the union to do anything - they can't file for you.

I'm in the same boat with electrical union. Filed last week and it was pretty straightforward. Make sure you have your employer's info ready, not just the union hall contact info.

Had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I got laid off from my job site. Kept getting busy signals for days. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

UNION WORKERS GET SCREWED BY THE SYSTEM ALL THE TIME! Washington ESD will find any excuse to deny your claim. They'll say you're not available for work because you're waiting for union callback or some BS like that.

You'll need to do the job search requirements even if you think you're getting called back. Washington ESD requires 3 job contacts per week and you have to log them in WorkSourceWA.

Make sure you file right away! I waited a week thinking I'd hear back from the union and lost out on that week of benefits. Washington ESD won't backdate your claim to before you actually filed.

been laid off 3 times this year from different union jobs, each time washington esd was fine with it. just have to report any callback work when you do your weekly claims

One thing to watch out for - if you get called back to work, you need to report that income on your weekly claim even if it's just a few days. Don't try to hide temporary callback work or you'll get hit with an overpayment.

Also remember that if you're on standby status with your employer (meaning you have a definite recall date within 8 weeks), you don't have to do job search activities. But that's different from just being told you 'might' get called back.

I tried calling Washington ESD last month when I got laid off and it was impossible. Kept getting disconnected after waiting an hour. Finally someone told me about Claimyr and it actually worked - got through to a real person the same day. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

just wanted to say union workers definitely qualify for unemployment. been doing this for 15 years and never had issues filing when laid off. washington esd treats us the same as everyone else

Quick question - do union dues get deducted from unemployment benefits? I'm still paying monthly dues even though I'm not working.

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP DOING YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS! I missed one week because I thought I was getting called back and it messed up my whole claim. Had to call Washington ESD to fix it and that was a nightmare.

Washington ESD website has all the info about filing as a union worker. Pretty straightforward process once you get through it the first time.

had a similar situation last year. Filed right away and had no problems. The key is being honest about your situation and following all the requirements. Washington ESD isn't out to get union workers like some people think.

Pro tip: when you file your claim, make sure to list your actual employer (the construction company) as your last employer, not the union hall. The union doesn't pay your wages, your employer does.

Been laid off from union jobs multiple times over the years. Never had issues with Washington ESD as long as I filed everything correctly and did my job searches. The system works if you work it.

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used it again last week when I had questions about my weekly claim certification. Still works great for getting through to Washington ESD when you actually need to talk to someone. Way better than the regular phone system.

One last thing - if you do get called back to work before your benefits run out, you can usually reopen your claim if you get laid off again within the benefit year. Just something to keep in mind for the future.

Seems like you got all the info you need. Union workers are just regular employees when it comes to unemployment. File early, do your job searches, report any income, and you'll be fine.

I went through this exact situation last year when my plumbing union job ended. Filed with Washington ESD right after my last day and it was totally smooth. The only thing I'd add is make sure you keep all your layoff paperwork from your employer - Washington ESD might ask for it later to verify the reason for separation. Also, even though you're union, you can apply for non-union jobs during your job search and it still counts toward your weekly requirements. Don't limit yourself to just union positions when doing your three weekly job contacts.