Right-to-work laws are state laws mandating that workers cannot be required to join or pay dues to a UNION as a condition of EMPLOYMENT. The 1947 TAFT-HARTLEY ACT allowed states to pass right-to-work laws, and right-to-work laws exist in 22 states. Most southern states have passed rightto- work laws, but most northeastern and all Pacific Coast states have not passed similar legislation. In right-to-work states, workers can resign from union membership but still be covered by the COLLECTIVE BARGAINING agreement negotiated with the union. Some right-to-work states also prohibit state agencies from negotiating with unions. In 2001 Oklahoma was the first state to pass right-towork legislation in over 15 years. Proposed as a singleissue election, the legislation passed with a 54-percent approval. Business leaders in the state promoted the legislation, while union groups opposed it. Oklahoma had last attempted to pass a right-to-work law in 1964. According to its wording, the new law
• bans contacts that require joining or quitting a labor organization to get or keep a job
• bans CONTRACTs that require remaining in a labor organization to get or keep a job
• bans contracts that require the payment of dues or other payments to labor organizations to get or keep a job
• requires employee approval to deduct payments to labor organizations from wages
In 2002 an appeals court in California, which is not a right-to-work state, ruled that 20,000 faculty members in the California State University must pay at least their “fair share” of union dues that go to cover the cost of collective bargaining and contract administration. In a right-to-work state, it is likely that these workers would not have union representation nor have to pay for the cost of collective bargaining.
See also WAGNER ACT.