Introduction
Right-to-Work laws exist in more than half of U.S. states. A Right-to-Work law protects workers from being automatically compelled to join a union and pay union dues. Whereas a Worker Union helps secure good wages and safe workplace conditions, Right-to-Work laws give employees the choice to opt out of what would be an otherwise compulsory unionized job. Essentially, Right-to-Work laws protect a worker’s freedom of choice.
Specifically, these laws protect individual workers from having to participate in collective actions, such as organizing a labor union or being represented by a union. The reason why Right-to-Work has been adopted by law in some places is that in states without Right-to-Work laws in place, workers applying for a job where the employees are unionized are required to join their labor union as a requirement of being hired.
An employee might not want to join a union for a number of reasons. If the employee values the freedom to negotiate what they’re paid on their own behalf, they may not desire to join a union functioning in their workplace. If they joined, the union would negotiate their wage for them and, in some limited scenarios, it could potentially cost them their job. For example, if a union negotiates for a higher wage successfully, a business may terminate a number of employees to account for the rise in the cost of payroll.
To learn more about right-to-work laws, scroll the data in the charts.
State | Right-to-Work Law | At-Will Employment Status |
---|---|---|
Alaska | No | Yes |
California | No | Yes |
Colorado | No | Yes |
Connecticut | No | Yes |
Delaware | No | Yes |
Hawaii | No | Yes |
Illinois | No | Yes |
Maine | No | Yes |
Maryland | No | Yes |
Massachusetts | No | Yes |
Minnesota | No | Yes |
Missouri | No | Yes |
Montana | No | No |
New Hampshire | No | Yes |
New Jersey | No | Yes |
New Mexico | No | Yes |
New York | No | Yes |
Ohio | No | Yes |
Oregon | No | Yes |
Pennsylvania | No | Yes |
Rhode Island | No | Yes |
Vermont | No | Yes |
Washington | No | Yes |
Alabama | Yes | Yes |
Arizona | Yes | Yes |
Arkansas | Yes | Yes |
Florida | Yes | Yes |
Georgia | Yes | Yes |
Idaho | Yes | Yes |
Indiana | Yes | Yes |
Iowa | Yes | Yes |
Kansas | Yes | Yes |
Kentucky | Yes | Yes |
Louisiana | Yes | Yes |
Michigan | Yes | Yes |
Mississippi | Yes | Yes |
Nebraska | Yes | Yes |
Nevada | Yes | Yes |
North Carolina | Yes | Yes |
North Dakota | Yes | Yes |
Oklahoma | Yes | Yes |
South Carolina | Yes | Yes |
South Dakota | Yes | Yes |
Tennessee | Yes | Yes |
Texas | Yes | Yes |
Utah | Yes | Yes |
Virginia | Yes | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes | Yes |
Wisconsin | Yes | Yes |
Wyoming | Yes | Yes |
Right-to-Work Law by State
Alabama
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Alaska
Right-to-Work Law
No
Arizona
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Arkansas
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
California
Right-to-Work Law
No
Colorado
Right-to-Work Law
No
Connecticut
Right-to-Work Law
No
Delaware
Right-to-Work Law
No
Florida
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Georgia
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Hawaii
Right-to-Work Law
No
Idaho
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Illinois
Right-to-Work Law
No
Indiana
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Iowa
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Kansas
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Kentucky
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Louisiana
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Maine
Right-to-Work Law
No
Maryland
Right-to-Work Law
No
Massachusetts
Right-to-Work Law
No
Michigan
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Minnesota
Right-to-Work Law
No
Mississippi
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Missouri
Right-to-Work Law
No
Montana
Right-to-Work Law
No
Nebraska
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Nevada
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
New Hampshire
Right-to-Work Law
No
New Jersey
Right-to-Work Law
No
New Mexico
Right-to-Work Law
No
New York
Right-to-Work Law
No
North Carolina
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
North Dakota
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Ohio
Right-to-Work Law
No
Oklahoma
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Oregon
Right-to-Work Law
No
Pennsylvania
Right-to-Work Law
No
Rhode Island
Right-to-Work Law
No
South Carolina
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
South Dakota
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Tennessee
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Texas
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Utah
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Vermont
Right-to-Work Law
No
Virginia
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Washington
Right-to-Work Law
No
West Virginia
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Wisconsin
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
Wyoming
Right-to-Work Law
Yes