National Right to Work Act

*Updated on 2/14/25*

Bill name: National Right to Work Act
Bill Sponsor: S. 533, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY); H.R. 1232, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Summary: The National Right to Work Act would grant private sector workers the ability to opt-out of a union and prohibit unions from getting workers fired for not paying them. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), a lead cosponsor of the bill, put it clearly in a statement, “No one should be peer pressured or forced to join a union.”

Right to Work, under this bill, would apply to workers covered by both the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

Background: Currently, 26 states have adopted Right to Work laws. However, those laws apply only to workers under the NLRA and only in those states. The RLA – which governs railroad and airline employees – prohibits Right to Work even when adopted at the state level. The National Right to Work Act would allow all private sector workers to opt out of a union.

Upon introduction of the legislation in 2025, Sen. Rand Paul said in a statement, ““The National Right to Work Act ensures all American workers have the ability to choose to refrain from joining or paying dues to a union as a condition for employment.”

Separately, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act introduced by Congressional Democrats would ban Right to Work laws entirely.

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Resources

Press release: Tuberville, Paul Affirm Alabamians’ Right-to-Work
VIDEO: “Dr. Rand Paul Re-Introduces the National Right to Work Act”
February 23, 21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYxai0Tt7XY

PRESS RELEASE: “Dr. Rand Paul Reintroduces National Right to work Act”
February 24, 21
https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-reintroduces-national-right-work-act

PRESS RELEASE: “Congressman Wilson Reintroduces National Right to Work Legislation”
February 24, 2021
https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-wilson-reintroduces-right-to-work-legislation