Right to Work in California
State-specific overview · Employment Law
California is not a right-to-work state; unions can require non-members to pay fair-share fees for representation.
How California treats Right to Work
California generally permits unions to require non-members to pay fair-share or agency fees covering the cost of union representation and collective bargaining. However, the U.S. Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME limited public sector fair-share fees, and California has restricted some private sector fee arrangements. Employees may still be required to contribute to union costs even without joining the union itself.
The general definition of Right to Work
A legal principle that employees cannot be forced to join a union or pay union fees as a job condition.
Right to work is a state law that protects workers from being required to join a labor union or pay union dues in order to keep their job. In right-to-work states, union membership is voluntary. This contrasts with union-security agreements in other states, where workers may be required to join or contribute to a union as a condition of employment.
Read the full Right to Work entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in California.