Unemployment Freeze Going Forward
The state Senate will take up a plan to protect businesses from a major hike in the cost of unemployment insurance this year.
According to the State House News Service, Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo have all expressed support for freezing the rate.
The Associated Industries of Massachusetts said a rate freeze would still make employers pay 10 percent more than in 2010 because of weakened experience ratings. But if no action were taken, the increase would be much more: 40 percent, or $258 per worker.
Currently, businesses pay an average of $646 per employee per year.
While businesses welcomed the freeze, AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes told the State House News Service the move would be "irresponsible and fiscally reckless." The top labor leader said the planned increase is so large only because businesses have successfully lobbied for rate freezes even in years when the economic climate was good.
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