Striking Workers Deserve Access to Unemployment Insurance

Members of the Minnesota Legislature

UAW workers in Plymouth, MN on strike.

Collective action is still the most effective way for workers to improve their pay and conditions. When working people go on strike and win, all workers win. For example, last year’s UAW strike against the big three automakers not only resulted in better pay and benefits at unionized manufacturers but pay went up for workers across the auto industry.

Our nation’s labor laws remain heavily skewed in favor of employers – who can temporarily replace workers, stall negotiations, make threats, cut off healthcare, and more. This leaves going on strike as a tactic of last resort because it often means no pay for workers and families. That’s why it’s time to begin balancing the scales in Minnesota and give striking workers access to unemployment insurance.

Unemployment insurance doesn’t come anywhere near a livable income, but it would allow working Minnesotans to put food on the table and take away employers’ power to “starve workers out” by delaying negotiations.

Sign this petition to tell lawmakers why it’s time for striking workers to have access to unemployment insurance.

Sponsored by
Mn-aflcio
St. Paul, MN
Additional Sponsors
Afscme_65_banner
St. Cloud, MN

To: Members of the Minnesota Legislature
From: [Your Name]

For far too long, our nation’s labor laws have been skewed in favor of employers – who can temporarily replace workers, stall negotiations, make threats, cut off healthcare, and more during a labor dispute. This disadvantage leaves going on strike as a tactic of last resort because it often means no pay for workers and families. That’s why it’s time to begin balancing the scales in Minnesota and give striking workers access to unemployment insurance.

When working people go on strike and win, all workers win. For example, last year’s UAW strike against the big three automakers not only resulted in better pay and benefits at unionized manufacturers but pay went up for workers across the auto industry.

Even though unemployment insurance doesn’t come anywhere near a livable income, it would allow working Minnesotans to put food on the table and take away employers’ power to “starve workers out” by delaying negotiations.

We urge you to support legislation opening unemployment insurance to workers on strike.