Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025
The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025 would expand unemployment insurance eligibility and exemptions to cover workers involved in labor disputes. Specifically, it amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat individuals who are employed but unable to work due to a labor dispute (including disputes over terms of employment, tenure, conditions, or representation) as though they were unemployed and eligible for unemployment benefits. The start of benefits would be triggered by the earliest of four dates: 14 days after a strike begins, the date a lockout begins, the date permanent replacement workers are hired, or the date the strike or lockout ends and the individual becomes unemployed. The bill also amends the Social Security Act to exempt such claimants from the usual work-availability requirement, meaning they would not have to be available for work while the dispute is ongoing. In short, the bill aims to provide financial support to workers actively involved in strikes or related disputes, potentially including those indirectly affected by such disputes, and to reduce the administrative barriers that would otherwise prevent them from receiving benefits during labor conflicts.
Key Points
- 1Creates new unemployment eligibility: An individual who is employed but unable to work due to a labor dispute (including disputes about terms, tenure, conditions, or representation) is eligible for unemployment benefits as if they were unemployed, even if the labor dispute involves parties beyond a direct employer-employee relationship.
- 2Applies to indirect effects: The provision covers not only direct participants in a labor dispute but also those who are unable to work as an indirect result of the dispute.
- 3Early benefit start dates: Benefits begin on the earliest of these dates: 14 days after a strike begins, the date a lockout begins, the date permanent replacement workers are hired, or the date the strike/lockout ends and the individual becomes unemployed.
- 4Broad scope of disputes: The paid benefits attachment includes disputes over terms, tenure, conditions, or the organization or representation of workers in negotiating or arranging terms of employment.
- 5Exemption from work search requirements: The Social Security Act would be amended to exempt claimants unable to work due to a labor dispute from the usual requirement to be available for and actively seeking work.