What are "right-to-work" laws?

"Right-to-work" laws are designed to grant employees the freedom to choose whether to join or collectively bargain through a union without facing mandatory union membership requirements. These laws specifically prohibit union security agreements, which are arrangements that require employees to become union members or pay union dues as a condition of employment. By allowing individuals to work without joining a union, right-to-work laws aim to protect the rights of workers who may not wish to be affiliated with a union while providing them with the ability to work in unionized environments.

The context of union security agreements in the definition underscores the fundamental nature of these laws: they are about individual choice and autonomy concerning union participation. In states with right-to-work laws, even in workplaces where a union exists, employees can opt not to join, thereby impacting the dynamics of union strength and financial support.

The other choices misrepresent the nature of right-to-work laws. Union membership mandates are the opposite of what these laws address, and workplace safety regulations and laws specific to federal employees do not pertain to the essence of right-to-work legislation.