N-R editorial: Jobless benefits for strikers violates standard of fairnessExtending unemployment benefits to striking workers in both the public and private sectors — a national first the Oregon Legislature now seems poised to sign off on — is a bridge too far for us. Oregon pays eligible workers $196 to $836 a week for 26 weeks to see them through periods of unemployment. Washington recently enacted a measure extending unemployment benefits to striking private sector employees, but capping it at six weeks and excluding public employees. As it stands, the bill would extend benefits to all striking employees for a full six-month run. The House did make one concession, limiting the payout to eight weeks in the event the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund falls below a certain threshold.