{"id":371832,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-right-to-work-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-03-23T09:53:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:53:53","slug":"california-right-to-work-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-right-to-work-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Is California a Right-To-Work State for Union Dues?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is California a Right-To-Work State for Union Dues?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Carol Clasby, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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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
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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

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California<\/span> is not a \u201cright-to-work\u201d state. This means California<\/span> law<\/span> allows employers and unions to require private-sector<\/span> employees to pay union dues<\/span> or agency fees<\/span> as a condition of employment<\/span> through union security agreements<\/span>. However, public-sector<\/span> employees cannot be required to pay union dues<\/span> due to a 2018 Supreme Court<\/span> decision.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Right-to-work laws<\/span> prevent employers and unions from requiring employees to pay union dues<\/span> or agency fees<\/span> as a condition of employment<\/span>. In non-right-to-work states<\/span>, this condition of employment<\/span> is found in the union security agreement<\/span> provision of a collective bargaining agreement<\/span>.<\/p>\n

California<\/span> is not a right-to-work state<\/span>. This means that California<\/span> labor law<\/span> allows union security agreements<\/span>. Employers can require California<\/span> workers<\/span> to pay dues<\/span> at a unionized workplace in the private sector<\/span>. Different rules apply to California<\/span>\u2019s public-sector<\/span> employees.<\/p>\n

If you work at a unionized workplace or are considering organizing a\u00a0labor union<\/span>, it is important to understand right-to-work issues under state and federal law<\/span>. In this article, we\u2019ll explain:<\/p>\n