This is a bit misleading.
Workers that are laid off do get unemployment pay. They’re not just thrown into the wind.
But this was definitely a calculated move by the union with the targeted strikes, forcing the auto companies to dip into their unemployment funds to pay those workers who were laid off rather than let the union foot the whole bill with a wholesale strike.

Ugh, I once made the mistake of not checking what I was ordering at a bar.
Sour pumpkin beer. I know that many people like sours, and I like some pumpkins, but together, I’m out.