'Right to Work' States

Author: Kimberly F. Seten, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) allows employers and unions to enter into "union security" clauses that require, as a condition of employment, employees to become members in good standing of the union.

The NLRA also permits individual states to override this portion of the Act if the state has enacted a statute that prohibits the execution or application of agreements requiring membership in a union or payment of dues as a condition of employment. Such states are known as "right to work" states.