agency shop

noun

1. a shop in which the union represents all workers in the bargaining unit and collects dues and fees from nonunion as well as union members.

Word History and Origins

Origin of agency shop¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

"Under the Taylor Law we lost the right to strike, and we were compelled to represent everybody– even if they opted out of the union, but we got their dues money. After the U.S. Supreme Court Janus decision, we lost the ability for those agency shop fees but still have to represent the people that don't pay dues," Samuelsen said.

From Salon

“Before deciding on a particular agency, shop around,” says BJ Miller, a physician, co-founder of Mettle Health and co-author of “A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death.”

From Washington Post

Unions also engage in political activities, including candidate endorsements and electioneering, but in an agency shop only fees from members can be used for that.

From Wall Street Journal

Right to work gives employers another point to intimidate, coerce, and threaten employees about being part of the union, all of which employers find much more difficult to do in a union or an agency shop.

From Salon

Recently, in a case involving public employee unions, Justice Samuel Alito digressed from the issue at hand to raise questions about the constitutionality of these agency shop fees, apparently inviting a challenge to Abood.

From Slate