By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved and Gov. Baker signed into law a bill requiring the state to set up a system to address the ongoing lockout of National Grid gas workers. The utility locked out more than 1,200 workers in June during a contract dispute and their unemployment benefits are scheduled to run out in January.

Under the program, locked out workers would receive the same weekly amount they are now receiving under the state’s current unemployment system until the lockout is resolved. All costs of the program would be paid by the existing unemployment insurance system.