Bill Overview
Title: Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act
Description: This bill prohibits an employer from terminating or altering the employer-provided health insurance coverage of an employee during the period that the employer is taking action to lock out, suspend, or otherwise withhold employment from the employee in order to influence the position of such employee or the representative of such employee in collective bargaining prior to a strike. An employer that violates this prohibition is generally subject to a maximum civil penalty of $75,000 for each violation.
Sponsors: Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
Target Audience
Population: Employees with employer-provided health insurance subject to lockouts
Estimated Size: 7000000
- The bill specifically targets employees who are locked out by their employers as a tactic during collective bargaining negotiations before a strike.
- The impact is on employees who have employer-provided health insurance, as the bill prohibits termination or alteration of such coverage during a lockout.
- According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, approximately 14 million union workers in the US, many of whom could potentially be engaged in bargaining negotiations.
- Given global estimates of union membership are lower, unionized workers in other countries who engage in bargaining negotiations may also be affected if similar legislation were adopted.
Reasoning
- The population of impacted individuals is quite specific: unionized employees who may face a lockout during collective bargaining processes and have employer-provided health insurance. Not everyone in the union workforce will face a lockout, and not all union employees have employer-based health coverage.
- The budget constraints of $5 million in year 1 and a 10-year total of $52.35 million mean that only a fraction of the possible 7 million affected individuals can be targeted efficiently by the policy. Depending on healthcare costs, estimated aid can directly support tens of thousands in immediate need each year.
- The assembled interviews cover a range of unionized employees from various industries, capturing differing perspectives on whether such a policy would impact them due to variance in lockout and collective bargaining experiences.
Simulated Interviews
Auto Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to hear about policies protecting our health benefits during lockouts.
- In 2018, without health insurance, my family and I went through a stressful time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Tech Support Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think about lockouts much, but knowing there's a protection for my health insurance is reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Oil Field Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a game-changer. My previous lockout was terrifying without insurance coverage, given my health conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Warehouse Worker (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the thought behind this policy, though I've never been locked out, it makes the thought of it less worrying.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Steelworker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This protection strengthens our negotiation stance, reducing anxiety around potential lockouts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Public Transit Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is certainly a good move, knowing my healthcare is protected if locked out offers peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Machinist (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With this bill, I don't worry as much about health coverage for my daughter during tense talks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Teacher (Louisville, KY)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill gives us a lifeline. Even during strikes, health insurance is critical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Hollywood Trade Sector Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any assurance against suddenly losing health insurance during work stoppages is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Hotel Worker (New York City, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.5 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this make strikes and negotiations less daunting, knowing my healthcare stays intact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 3: $5100000 (Low: $3060000, High: $7140000)
Year 5: $5200000 (Low: $3120000, High: $7280000)
Year 10: $5500000 (Low: $3300000, High: $7700000)
Year 100: $7000000 (Low: $4200000, High: $9800000)
Key Considerations
- The healthcare market responses in terms of coverage cost adjustments.
- The enforcement mechanisms and effectiveness in ensuring compliance.
- The likelihood of penalties acting as a sufficient deterrent for employers trying to bypass this protection.