{"id":371588,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:22","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-right-to-work-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-06-01T16:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T21:05:06","slug":"arizona-right-to-work-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arizona-law\/arizona-right-to-work-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Right-To-Work Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Arizona Right-To-Work Laws<\/h1>\n\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n

Arizona<\/span> is a \u201cright-to-work<\/span>\u201d state. A right-to-<\/span>work<\/span> state<\/span> does not mean workers are guaranteed a job. Instead, workers are not required to join a union to keep their jobs, and employers may not make union membership<\/span> a condition of employment<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many states, Arizona<\/span> has made the right to work<\/span> part of its state constitution. In addition to state law<\/span>, Article XXV of the Arizona<\/span> Constitution prohibits companies from denying employment based on membership or non-membership in a union or labor organization<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Employment laws<\/span><\/a> define employee rights<\/span> in matters such as wage rates<\/span>, working conditions<\/span>, and the length of the workweek<\/span>. When labor unions<\/a> first organized in the early 20th century, companies tried to prevent workers from joining. Later, as labor relations<\/span> improved and unions gained more power, union shops sought to control membership and job access by negotiating contracts that required companies to force new hires to join the union.<\/p>\n

To prevent people from losing work if they preferred not to join a union, Arizona<\/span> and other states enacted right-to-work<\/span> laws<\/span><\/a>. These laws prohibit employers from requiring union membership<\/span> as a condition of employment<\/span>. They also prevent employers from treating union and non-union members differently. Under the National Labor Relations<\/span> Act (NLRA), all employees must have the same wages and benefits under a union contract or collective bargaining<\/span> agreement<\/span>, whether or not they pay union dues<\/span>.<\/p>\n

In states that lack these laws, employers may have contracts requiring union membership<\/span> or payment of membership fees as a condition of employment<\/span>. As of 2026, the states are split almost evenly on right-to-work<\/span> laws<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>Right<\/span> to Work<\/span> Laws<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Right to Unionize<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Under the National Labor Relations<\/span> Act <\/a>(NLRA), all Americans<\/span> have the right to form unions and collective bargaining<\/span> units to negotiate wages and benefits with their employer. Arizona<\/span>\u2019s <\/span>right<\/span>-to-work<\/span> laws<\/span>\u00a0guarantee that a worker does not have to engage in these efforts or join any subsequent union. Gig workers can unionize in some states, but most independent contractors<\/span> are not covered by the NLRA.<\/p>\n

At-Will Employment<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cRight to work<\/span>\u201d is often confused with \u201cat-will employment<\/span>.\u201d Although they sound similar, the two legal concepts are not related. Right to work<\/span> involves union membership<\/span>. At-will employment<\/span><\/a> concerns the employment relationship<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Arizona<\/span> is an at-will state. Under this system, either the employer or the employee may end the employment relationship<\/span> at any time. This can be for any reason and with or without notice, unless a contract states otherwise. Arizona<\/span>\u2019s Employment Protection Act<\/a> (AEPA) provides statutory exemptions<\/span> to the at-will relationship if:<\/p>\n

The Arizona<\/span> Revised Statutes (ARS<\/span>) codify the Arizona<\/span>\u00a0Constitution<\/a>\u00a0and state that workers must have the option to refuse to join a union<\/a>. The law applies to private workers, public employees<\/span>, and any unionized government workers.<\/p>\n