Right-to-Work Law

A right-to-work law is a state law that prohibits union security agreements, or agreements between employers and labor unions, that require workers to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment. Right-to-work laws are also known as "anti-union" laws.

Right-to-work laws are controversial. Supporters of right-to-work laws argue that they give workers more freedom of choice and that they help to keep down the cost of labor. Opponents of right-to-work laws argue that they weaken unions and make it harder for unions to negotiate for higher wages and better benefits for their members.

The first right-to-work law was passed in 1947 in Arkansas. As of 2023, 27 states have right-to-work laws. The states with right-to-work laws are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The states without right-to-work laws are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

The impact of right-to-work laws on unions and workers is a matter of debate. Some studies have found that right-to-work laws have led to a decline in union membership and a decrease in the wages and benefits of union workers. Other studies have found that right-to-work laws have had little or no impact on union membership or the wages and benefits of union workers.

The debate over right-to-work laws is likely to continue for many years to come.