WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), a union electrician and co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (CA-12) introduced the Empowering Striking Workers Act to allow workers who exercise their right to collectively bargain to be eligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits after 14 days of striking. New Jersey and New York are currently the only two states where striking workers can apply for UI benefits following a 14-day waiting period. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined the members in introducing the legislation in the Senate. 

This bill is designed to support workers during labor disputes, ensuring they don’t have to choose between fighting for their rights at work and supporting their families financially. The Empowering Striking Workers Act also guarantees that workers on strike will not be required to seek other employment to receive their unemployment insurance.   

“Any union worker knows that going on strike is always the last resort,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Workers don’t want to be on the picket line – they want to get back to work, reach a fair agreement, and provide for their families. The Empowering Striking Workers Act will make sure no worker is forced to choose between standing up for their rights and putting food on the table.” 

“The right to strike is a fundamental organizing tool for workers. It was striking workers who organized and won a minimum wage, the 40-hour work week, and the weekend. But because a majority of states do not allow workers to collect unemployment benefits while on strike, many low-income and hourly workers are forced to agree to poor terms just to keep food on the table,” said Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “The Empowering Striking Workers Act would provide an even playing field for workers and employers by ensuring striking workers can continue to collect unemployment benefits while negotiating with their employer.” 

“I’m incredibly proud to stand alongside Senator Schiff and Representatives Norcross and Ocasio-Cortez in introducing this legislation to ensure striking workers have access to unemployment insurance,” said Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. “From the longshore workers of West Oakland to front line workers across the East Bay, no worker in my district or across the U.S. should ever have to choose between exercising their right to fair bargaining and putting food on the table for their family. That’s not a level playing field, it’s exploitation. This bill restores balance, strengthens workers’ voices, and empowers them to fight for better wages and conditions, and negotiate in good faith without the fear of financial hardship hanging over them.”  

“Workers must be able to meaningfully exercise their right to protest for better wages and benefits and cannot do so if their families are going hungry. The Empowering Striking Workers Act ensures striking workers can receive the financial support they need while on the picket lines — to help level the playing field with the corporate executives sitting across the table from them who continue to draw a paycheck,” said Senator Schiff. 

The bill is endorsed by National Employment Law Project (NELP), American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) 

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Association of Flight Attendants—CWA, United Auto Workers (UAW), Writers Guild of America West (WGAW), National Nurses Union (NNU), Communications Workers of America (CWA), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Steelworkers (USW), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), United Farm Workers (UFW), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). 

“When working people collectively bargain for a better deal at work, they lift standards and job security across entire industries, benefiting all of us. When employers refuse a fair deal for their employees, precipitating a strike, those workers give up paychecks to fight for all of us. A fair economy depends upon the outcome of that fight, and the unemployment system should provide support for those on the picket lines. They’re out of work, so that good jobs will proliferate. This is a common sense use for unemployment insurance,” said American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Director of Advocacy Jody Calemine. 

"Given the ongoing attacks on workers, it's never been more important that workers be able to stand up for our basic rights. The Empowering Striking Workers Act is a timely, necessary step to protect workers' right to fundamental rights on the job and make sure that employers can't starve workers back to work under dangerous, inhumane conditions. This bill provides a basic safeguard for working families and reaffirms that our labor laws must protect people, not profits," said Communications Workers of America (CWA) Director of Government Affairs Dan Mauer. 

“Collective bargaining is an essential tool for workers to balance the scales with their employers and win fair wages and safe working conditions. And while no worker wants to be locked out of their job or forced out on strike, there are times when a labor dispute serves as a critical last resort to bring an employer to the table to bargain in good faith. Our union commends Sen. Schiff and Rep. Norcross for their common-sense legislation that would allow striking workers to access unemployment benefits, maintain a level playing field with their employer and continue putting food on the table while they exercise their rights,” said United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall. 

“Farm workers have long been excluded from federal labor protections, despite being the workers who feed every corner of our country,” said United Farm Workers (UFW) President Teresa Romero. “The UFW is proud to support Senator Schiff’s legislation, which would ensure that every worker—including in the agricultural industry—has access to unemployment insurance benefits when striking for the wages, working conditions, and union contracts they deserve.”  

“American workers are the engine of our country, and unions bring them together to stand and fight against corporate abuse. When workers are forced to join together and strike, they deserve the same protection they would have for wage losses for any other reason. Supporting this bill is one way every American can stand up for workers when it matters most,” said Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

“In 2023, writers struck for 148 days as the studios delayed negotiating in the hopes of avoiding a fair deal by pushing writers to the brink of economic desperation. Unemployment insurance allows striking workers to fight for fair deals while staying afloat and keeping local economies healthy. The Writers Guild of America West strongly supports the Empowering Striking Workers Act to help workers stand up for their rights,” said Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) President Meredith Stiehm.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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