There is precedent for ensuring workers can access unemployment insurance when negotiations break down: Unemployment insurance coverage during labor disputes by state, 2023
| State | Key | UI is available during |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | |
| Alaska | 4 | Conditional Strike: Triggered by employer breaking labor law or union contract |
| Arizona | 4 | Conditional Strike: Triggered by employer breaking labor law or union contract |
| Arkansas | 3 | Lockout |
| California | 3 | Lockout |
| Colorado | 3 | Lockout |
| Connecticut | 3 | Lockout |
| Delaware | 3 | Lockout |
| Florida | 3 | Lockout |
| Georgia | 3 | Lockout |
| Hawaii | 0 | |
| Idaho | 0 | |
| Illinois | 3 | Lockout |
| Indiana | 0 | |
| Iowa | 0 | |
| Kansas | 0 | |
| Kentucky | 3 | Lockout |
| Louisiana | 3 | Lockout |
| Maine | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| Maryland | 3 | Lockout |
| Massachusetts | 3 | Lockout |
| Michigan | 3 | Lockout |
| Minnesota | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| Mississippi | 3 | Lockout |
| Missouri | 0 | |
| Montana | 4 | Conditional Strike: Triggered by employer breaking labor law or union contract |
| Nebraska | 0 | |
| Nevada | 0 | |
| New Hampshire | 4 | Conditional Strike: Triggered by employer breaking labor law or union contract |
| New Jersey | 1 | Lockout & Strike |
| New Mexico | 0 | |
| New York | 1 | Lockout & Strike |
| North Carolina | 0 | |
| North Dakota | 0 | |
| Ohio | 3 | Lockout |
| Oklahoma | 3 | Lockout |
| Oregon | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | Lockout |
| Rhode Island | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| South Dakota | 3 | Lockout |
| South Carolina | 0 | |
| Tennessee | 3 | Lockout |
| Texas | 3 | Lockout |
| Utah | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| Vermont | 3 | Lockout |
| Virginia | 0 | |
| Washington | 0 | |
| Washington D.C. | 3 | Lockout |
| West Virginia | 2 | Lockout & Conditional Strike |
| Wisconsin | 3 | Lockout |
| Wyoming | 0 |
Source: National Employment Law Project (NELP) analysis of U.S. Department of Labor, Comparison of State UI Laws (2023). Adapted from Figure 1 of Unemployment Insurance for Striking Workers (NELP 2024).