Retailers, package delivery companies, restaurants, and other companies often hire temporary workers during the Holiday Season. Knowing that many of these workers may be unaware of their right not to join a union, union officials often deceive temporary workers into believing they must join or pay dues to the union to keep their jobs.
To help these temporary workers understand their full legal rights, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is issuing this Holiday Season legal notice.
INFORMATION FOR HOLIDAY SEASON TEMPORARY WORKERS:
Union Membership: Employees have a right not to be members of unions. Employers and unions thus cannot legally require temporary employees to be full union members to get or keep their jobs. However, as discussed below, if you do not work in a Right to Work state, you may be required to pay union fees as a condition of employment. https://www.nrtw.org/required-join-pay-private/.
Union Fees: If you are fortunate enough to work in a state with a Right to Work law, you cannot be required to pay any monies to a union to get or keep a temporary job: https://www.nrtw.org/can-resign-rtw-private/.
If you do not work in a Right to Work state, you may be required to pay fees to a union as a condition of employment. More information about forced fees can be found here: https://www.nrtw.org/object-nonbargaining-private/. However, even in a state that lacks Right to Work protections, if you are working for LESS THAN 30 DAYS on the job, you cannot be legally obligated to pay union fees.
Union Documents: Some union officials, and even some employers, may pressure temporary workers into signing a union membership agreement or dues deduction agreements. You do not have to sign either agreement to get or keep a job. Remember these two important points before you sign any piece of paper concerning a union:
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Unless you voluntarily want to join a union, DO NOT sign any card or other document stating you want to join a union, which could trap you in union membership even after your seasonal job has ended.
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Unless you voluntarily want to pay union dues, DO NOT sign any card or other document authorizing dues deduction or check off that would allow union officials to take money automatically from your hard-earned paycheck.
If you have signed a union membership or dues deduction agreement, and feel your rights may have been violated, we encourage you to contact the Foundation’s legal team for free legal assistance at 1-800-336-3600 or at https://www.nrtw.org/free-legal-aid/.
