Workers on strike
You may be eligible to receive up to 6 weeks of benefits while a strike is in effect. We may consider you on strike when any of these criteria apply:
- Your union is on strike.
- You refuse available work because of a strike.
Benefits are not allowed until the second Sunday after a strike begins. Workers who qualify for benefits need to serve a 1-week unpaid waiting period per benefit year. The 6 weeks available during a strike are not extra weeks within your benefit year. Learn how a benefit year works.
The first week you file for benefits and meet the weekly requirements is your waiting week. You do not get paid for your waiting week. If you do not meet the requirements the first week, it does not count as your waiting week. You need to meet the requirements the next week and wait that week without pay. Once you have completed your waiting week, you are eligible to get paid when you meet weekly requirements and file a claim.
Workers unemployed because of a lockout
You may be eligible for the duration of the lockout. Workers who qualify for benefits need to serve a 1-week unpaid waiting period per benefit year. Learn how a benefit year works.
The first week you file for benefits and meet the weekly requirements is your waiting week. You do not get paid for your waiting week. If you do not meet the requirements the first week, it does not count as your waiting week. You need to meet the requirements the next week and wait that week without pay. Once you have completed your waiting week, you are eligible to get paid when you meet weekly requirements and file a claim.
Eligibility requirements during labor disputes
Most eligibility requirements apply to workers who file weekly claims during a labor dispute. Read more about basic eligibility requirements.
To remain eligible when filing weekly claims during a labor dispute, you need to:
- Be able and available to work for the dates you claim.
- Report any wages you earn while on strike.
- Complete 3 job search activities. Learn about approved job search activities.
Each week you submit a claim we will contact you to confirm your job search activities. You need to respond by the deadline we provide. If you do not respond by the deadline, your claim will be denied. We will send you a denial letter with details about your overpayment. Learn how to pay back an overpayment.
Members of unions in the Referral Union program can count union dispatch and referrals as their weekly job search requirement. Learn more about the Referral Union program.
You do not need to report strike pay from the union.
You should file a claim each week, even if you are waiting to:
- Find out if you qualify for benefits.
- Have wages and hours added to your claim.
- Appeal a denial of benefits.
Learn how to file weekly claims.
Applying for benefits during a labor dispute
When you apply for unemployment benefits, you need to provide detailed information. Learn about the information you need when you apply.
When you apply, you may choose “I am on strike” as the reason for not working. We will send a questionnaire to you and your employer. Please reply as soon as possible.
Learn how to apply for benefits.
Reporting back pay and paying back overpayments
You need to report any back pay you get for weeks you received benefits. You can report the back pay when filing a weekly claim, by sending us a web notice through your eServices account, or by talking with a claims agent. For current Claims Center hours, please check our contact us page.
When you have an overpayment, we will send a decision letter with information about how to pay it back. Learn more about overpayments.
If a strike is prohibited by state or federal law
We process claims for a striking worker unless an employer gets a final court judgment that a strike is prohibited by law. If a strike is prohibited:
- The employer needs to share the court judgment with us.
- The worker needs to repay benefits received during the strike. We will send a decision letter with overpayment details and how to pay it back. Learn more about overpayments.