These clauses protect the rights of employees to decline membership in labor unions in order to work.

How to Use

Constitutions

Alaska

Close
Expand
Alabama

(a) It is hereby declared to be the public policy of Alabama that the right of persons to work may not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in a labor union or labor organization. (b) An agreement or combination between an employer and labor union or labor organization which provides that a person who is not a member of the union or organization shall be denied the right to work for the employer, or where membership in the union or organization is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by the employer, or where the union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any enterprise, is hereby declared to be against public policy and an illegal combination or conspiracy. (c) No person shall be required by an employer to become or remain a member of any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of employment. (d) A person may not be required by an employer to abstain or refrain from membership in any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of his or her employment. (e) An employer may not require a person, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to pay dues, fees, or other charges of any kind to any labor union or labor organization. (f) This amendment shall not apply to any lawful contract in force on or prior to the date of the ratification of this amendment but it shall apply in all respects to contracts entered into after the date of the ratification of this amendment, and to any renewal or extension of an existing contract.

Close
Expand
Arkansas

No person shall be denied employment because of membership in or affiliation with or resignation from a labor union, or because of refusal to join or affiliate with a labor union; nor shall any corporation or individual or association of any kind enter into any contract, written or oral, to exclude from employment members of a labor union or persons who refuse to join a labor union, or because of resignation from a labor union; nor shall any person against his will be compelled to pay dues to any labor organization as a prerequisite to or condition of employment.

Close
Expand
Arizona

No person shall be denied the opportunity to obtain or retain employment because of non-membership in a labor organization, nor shall the State or any subdivision thereof, or any corporation, individual or association of any kind enter into any agreement, written or oral, which excludes any person from employment or continuation of employment because of non-membership in a labor organization.

Close
Expand
California

Close
Expand
Colorado

Close
Expand
Connecticut

Close
Expand
Delaware

Close
Expand
Florida

The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organization. The right of employees, by and through a labor organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged. Public employees shall not have the right to strike.

Close
Expand
Georgia

Close
Expand
Hawaii

Close
Expand
Iowa

Close
Expand
Idaho

Close
Expand
Illinois

Close
Expand
Indiana

Close
Expand
Kansas

No person shall be denied the opportunity to obtain or retain employment because of membership or nonmembership in any labor organization, nor shall the state or any subdivision thereof, or any individual, corporation, or any kind of association enter into any agreement, written or oral, which excludes any person from employment or continuation of employment because of membership or nonmembership in any labor organization.

Close
Expand
Kentucky

Close
Expand
Louisiana

Close
Expand
Massachusetts

Close
Expand
Maryland

Close
Expand
Maine

Close
Expand
Michigan

Close
Expand
Minnesota

Close
Expand
Missouri

Close
Expand
Mississippi

It is hereby declared to be the public policy of Mississippi that the right of a person or persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in any labor union or labor organization. Any agreement or combination between any employer and any labor union or labor organization whereby any person not a member of such union or organization shall be denied the right to work for an employer, or whereby such membership is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or whereby any such union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any enterprise, is hereby declared to be an illegal combination or conspiracy and against public policy. No person shall be required by an employer to become or remain a member of any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer. No person shall be required by an employer to abstain or refrain from membership in any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of employment. No employer shall require any person, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to pay any dues, fees or other charges of any kind to any labor union or labor organization. Any person who may be denied employment or be deprived of continuation of his employment in violation of any paragraph of this section shall be entitled to recover from such employer and from any other person, firm, corporation or association acting in concert with him by appropriate action in the courts of this state such actual damages as he may have sustained by reason of such denial or deprivation of employment. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any lawful contract in force on the effective date of this section, but they shall apply to all contracts thereafter entered into and to any renewal or extension of an existing contract thereafter occurring. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any employer or employee under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railway Labor Act.

Close
Expand
Montana

Close
Expand
North Carolina

Close
Expand
North Dakota

Close
Expand
Nebraska

No person shall be denied employment because of membership in or affiliation with, or resignation or expulsion from a labor organization or because of refusal to join or affiliate with a labor organization; nor shall any individual or corporation or association of any kind enter into any contract, written or oral, to exclude persons from employment because of membership in or nonmembership in a labor organization.

Close
Expand
New Hampshire

Close
Expand
New Jersey

Close
Expand
New Mexico

Close
Expand
Nevada

Close
Expand
New York

Close
Expand
Ohio

Close
Expand
Oklahoma

A. As used in this section, "labor organization" means any organization of any kind, or agency or employee representation committee or union, that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning wages, rates of pay, hours of work, other conditions of employment, or other forms of compensation. B. No person shall be required, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to: 1. Resign or refrain from voluntary membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or voluntary financial support of a labor organization; 2. Become or remain a member of a labor organization; 3. Pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges of any kind or amount to a labor organization; 4. Pay to any charity or other third party, in lieu of such payments, any amount equivalent to or pro rata portion of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges regularly required of members of a labor organization; or 5. Be recommended, approved, referred, or cleared by or through a labor organization. C. It shall be unlawful to deduct from the wages, earnings, or compensation of an employee any union dues, fees, assessments, or other charges to be held for, transferred to, or paid over to a labor organization unless the employee has first authorized such deduction. D. The provisions of this section shall apply to all employment contracts entered into after the effective date of this section and shall apply to any renewal or extension of any existing contract. E. Any person who directly or indirectly violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Close
Expand
Oregon

Close
Expand
Pennsylvania

Close
Expand
Rhode Island

Close
Expand
South Carolina

Close
Expand
South Dakota

No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in any labor union, or labor organization.

Close
Expand
Tennessee

It is unlawful for any person, corporation, association, or this state or its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person by reason of the person's membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization.

Close
Expand
Texas

Close
Expand
US

Close
Expand
Utah

Close
Expand
Virginia

Close
Expand
Vermont

Close
Expand
Wisconsin

Close
Expand
West Virginia

Close
Expand
Wyoming

Close
Expand