S. 2779Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2025

Introduced September 11, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM UTC

The Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2025 changes the tax code so that money workers receive from their unions during a strike or lockout is not counted as taxable income. It defines which union payments qualify, and it also adjusts the Earned Income Tax Credit to treat these payments like other non‑taxable earnings. The rule takes effect for strike benefits paid after the end of 2025.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 139M to the Internal Revenue Code stating that qualified strike benefits are not included in an individual’s gross income.
  • Defines “qualified strike benefits” as payments from a labor organization (501(c)(5)) that replace wages lost because of a strike, lockout, or work stoppage under the NLRA or Railway Labor Act.
  • Amends the Earned Income Tax Credit rules so that benefits excluded under Section 139M are treated the same as other qualifying income.
  • Specifies that the changes apply only to strike‑related compensation received after December 31, 2025.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

September 11, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 11, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

September 11, 2025

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 11, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2779

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 11, 2025

Mr. Gallego (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude strike benefits from gross income.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Tax Cut for Striking Workers Act of 2025.

2.

Strike benefits

(a)

In general

Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by Public Law 119–21, is amended by inserting after section 139L the following new section:

139M.

Compensation for lost wages relating to a strike, lockout, or work stoppage

(a)

In general

In the case of an individual, gross income shall not include qualified strike benefits.

(b)

Qualified strike benefits

For purposes of this section, the term qualified strike benefits means compensation provided by a labor organization described in section 501(c)(5) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) to a member of such organization if such compensation is provided as a replacement, in whole or in part, for compensation not received by such member from such member’s employer as the result of a strike or lockout arising from a labor dispute (as defined in section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act), or a work stoppage under the Railway Labor Act.

.

(b)

Treatment under earned income tax credit

Section 32(c)(2)(B)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting or 139M after by reason of section 112.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by Public Law 119–21, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 139L the following new item:

.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to compensation received after December 31, 2025.