Catherwood LibraryILR School

In the wake of an election that resulted with Republican majorities in many states, observers expect more states to pass "right-to-work" laws, even in states with a traditionally strong union presence. There are now 27 states with right-to-work laws in place, with Kentucky becoming the most recent addition earlier this month. Under such laws, workers would not be required to join unions in workplaces where they exist, or pay union dues. Union leaders claim that right-to-work laws weaken their ability to collectively bargain with employers, but in the most recent elections many Republican candidates received support from unionized workers, including President Trump. That support has empowered lawmakers to propose similar laws, even in states such as Pennsylvania, where the labor movement has a long and storied history.