right-to-work law

[ rahyt-tuh-wurk law ]

noun

1. a state law making it illegal to refuse employment to a person for the sole reason that they are not a union member.

Word History and Origins

Origin of right-to-work law¹

An Americanism dating back to 1955–60

Example Sentences

He once said he’d sign a national right-to-work law, he’s denounced prominent labor leaders like UAW president Shawn Fain, and he’s embraced extremely anti-union business leaders including Elon Musk.

From Slate

She is a dynamic public speaker; has achieved a number of long-sought Democratic goals in the state during her six years in office, including repealing Michigan’s anti-union “right-to-work” law; and has demonstrated her crossover appeal to Republicans by running a successful reelection campaign in a tough environment for national Democrats, including winning 9 percent of Republican women in 2022.

From Slate

They transformed Michigan from a bastion of organized labor that leaned Democratic into a toss-up state that, until recently, had a right-to-work law and put Republicans in control of all three branches of government for eight of the last 14 years.

From Salon

As governor, he broke pro-labor campaign promises and opted not to challenge the state’s right-to-work law.

From Slate

Michigan Democrats hold a “trifecta” — control of the state House, state Senate and the governor’s office — for the first time in nearly 40 years and passed numerous long-sought measures in the first eight months of the year, including a 11-bill gun safety package and the repeal of a right-to-work law.

From Seattle Times