right-to-work state

Intermediate ⚖️ Legal

Definition

A delightfully misleading term for states where employees can't be required to join unions, framed as freedom but often resulting in lower wages and fewer protections. The naming is Orwellian marketing at its finest - 'right to work' really means 'right to work for less.'

Example Usage

After the state became right-to-work, union membership dropped and average wages mysteriously declined.

Source: U.S. labor law

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