Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A union security agreement is a deal between a labor union and an employer that says all workers must support the union in some way to keep their job. This means they may have to become a union member or pay fees to the union. The law says employers can't force workers to be union members, but they can require them to pay fees. Some states have laws that say workers can't be forced to pay these fees, though.
A union security agreement is a deal between a labor union and an employer. The agreement says that the employer will require all employees to support the union as a condition of employment. This means that employees have to become members of the union and pay certain fees to the union to get or keep their job.
For example, let's say a company signs a union security agreement with a labor union. The agreement says that all employees must become members of the union within 30 days of starting their job. They also have to pay union dues and initiation fees. If an employee doesn't do these things, they could lose their job.
The Taft-Hartley Act of 1987 made it illegal for employers to have a "closed shop" agreement. This means that employers can't require employees to be union members before they are hired. However, the law does allow employers and unions to have an agreement that requires employees to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
Some states have "right-to-work" laws that make union security agreements illegal. This means that employees can't be required to join a union or pay union fees as a condition of employment.