Know Your Rights -- Understanding Your Workplace Freedom

No employee in the United States can be legally required to become a full-dues-paying member of a union. However, in certain states, private-sector employees may still be required to pay fees that are nearly equivalent to full union dues—though these requirements may be legally challenged. For more information or free legal assistance, visit NRTW.org. 

Union members can choose to resign at any time. However, if you have signed a dues deduction authorization, there may be limitations on when you can revoke it, depending on the agreement and state laws.

If you work in a state with a Right to Work law or are a public-sector employee, you cannot be required to pay union fees to keep your job. However, these protections do not extend to railway and airline employees or certain private-sector contractors on federal property. Depending on your specific situation, you may have additional rights and protections. For more information or free legal assistance, contact the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation at NRTW.org.

Because unions have the privilege of exclusive representation, they are legally required to represent all employees in their bargaining units fairly—whether they are union members or not. This duty is often ignored or violated.

In states without Right to Work laws, private-sector employees may be required to pay certain union fees. However, if you choose not to be a member, your required payment must be limited to the union’s proven costs of collective bargaining. It cannot legally include political activities or unrelated expenses.

Employees with religious objections to union membership or dues payments have the right to request that their forced dues be redirected to a charity instead of the union. You do not have to belong to a specific religion to claim this right.

If you are a union member but want to continue working during a strike, you should formally resign from union membership before returning to work. If you fail to do so, the union may impose fines on you. Nonmembers can work at will without facing union penalties.

Employees have the legal right to petition for a vote to remove an unwanted union from their workplace or to eliminate its authority to collect forced fees.