With holiday season underway, temporary workers notified they don’t have to join a union

By Bethany Blankley
The Center Square

With a busy holiday season underway, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is notifying temporary workers that they don’t have to join a union.

It published a special legal notice for temporary workers in the transportation, retail, food service, and other industries who’ve picked up extra workers during the 2025 holiday season.

“Knowing that many of these workers may be unaware of their right not to join a union, union officials often deceive temporary workers into believing they must join or pay dues to the union to keep their jobs,” the foundation said. “To help these temporary workers understand their full legal rights, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is issuing this Holiday Season legal notice.”

The notice provides information and legal rights about union membership, union fees and union documents. It explains that “Employees have a right not to be members of unions. Employers and unions thus cannot legally require temporary employees to be full union members to get or keep their jobs. However, as discussed below, if you do not work in a Right to Work state, you may be required to pay union fees as a condition of employment.”

Even in 24 states that don’t have Right to Work protections, if temporary employees work less than 30 days they are not legally obligated to pay union fees, the foundation explains.

“Seasonal workers should be commended for stepping up to make the holidays run smoothly. But in the hustle and bustle they shouldn’t forget about their individual rights,” NRWF president Mark Mix said. “Union bosses may use the holiday rush as their opportunity to trap delivery drivers, shelf stockers, and many others in union membership and dues deductions without them even noticing. But the Foundation’s legal notice provides vital information so they can be on guard against such illegal demands.”

The notice explains that some union officials and employers “may pressure temporary workers into signing a union membership agreement or dues deduction agreements” but temporary workers are not required to sign such agreements as a condition for employment or to keep their job, the foundation says.

“Many Americans pick up extra jobs this time of year to put a little extra money in their pocket for the holidays, which makes it especially outrageous when union grinches mislead workers into paying dues money in violation of their rights. Seasonal employees should not hesitate to contact the Foundation if they believe they are being forced to fund or otherwise associate with an unwanted union in violation of their legal rights,” Mix said.

The foundation is providing free legal assistance to temporary workers who’ve already signed a union membership or dues deduction agreement, and feel their rights were violated.

It also cites an example of how it assisted a seasonal UPS worker in Stockton, Calif., who received a paycheck for $0 after UPS management deducted full union dues from his paycheck at the behest of Teamsters union officials.

There are currently 26 states that have Right to Work protections for private employees who aren’t required to join or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. The 24 states that don’t have Right to Work protections allow union officials to enforce contracts requiring workers to pay dues or be fired, including workers who don’t become union members.