Pay the union or lose your job: N.J.'s Labor Day problem

This Labor Day, we celebrate the men and women whose hard work keeps the country running. But in New Jersey, many of those same workers face a real threat: Pay union dues or lose their jobs. That's because New Jersey is one of the minority of states that lacks a Right to Work law. Right to Work laws ensure that union membership and financial support are fully voluntary. Workers are free to join a union and pay dues if they choose, but neither can be mandatory. In contrast, an employee in New Jersey may oppose unionization but still be fired for refusing to financially support a union. If you think this sounds unjust, you're in good company. For years, polls have consistently shown that 8 in 10 Americans believe union membership and dues payments should be strictly voluntary. Those who see unions up close every day agree. In a national poll conducted before the 2024 election, 79% of current union members agreed with the statement: 'Workers should never be forced to join a union or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment.' Fortunately, state employees in New Jersey and across the country have enjoyed Right to Work protections since the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court decision. In that case, the court ruled in favor of Mark Janus, finding that the First Amendment protects individuals from being forced to fund union activities as a condition of government employment. Unfortunately, private-sector workers in New Jersey can still be forced to pay money to a union or lose their jobs. This not only denies workers the freedom to decide for themselves whether a union deserves their financial support, but also can undermine economic growth and opportunity in New Jersey. According to a recent National Institute for Labor Relations Research analysis of government economic data, employment growth in Right to Work states from 2015 to 2025 was nearly three times higher than in states without Right to Work laws, including New Jersey. During the same period, Right to Work states saw a 7.7% increase in manufacturing employment, while states without Right to Work laws experienced a 2.9% decline. The NILRR report also found that dependence on Temporary Aid to Needy Families was nearly five times higher in states without Right to Work laws than in Right to Work states. It further found that, as a share of the population, states without Right to Work laws issued fewer than half as many permits for new single-family housing construction. Moreover, after adjusting for regional cost-of-living differences, residents of Right to Work states had roughly $3,500 more in disposable income per capita in 2025 than residents of states without Right to Work laws. The economic benefits of Right to Work speak for themselves, but this issue is not just about the economy. At their core, Right to Work laws are intended to protect worker freedom by giving employees a way to hold unions accountable. When union officials fail to advance workers' interests, they risk losing financial support. Right to Work laws do not outlaw labor unions, nor do they prevent anyone from joining one. They simply codify a popular, common-sense principle: Every worker should have the right to decide whether to join or financially support a labor union. This Labor Day, take a moment to reflect on the challenges New Jersey workers may face. Consider how Right to Work laws could protect workers' ability to choose whether to support a labor union while also promoting economic growth and opportunity. This Labor Day, New Jersey workers deserve more than our appreciation. They deserve the protection of a Right to Work law. Mark Mix is president of the National Right to Work Committee and National Right to Work Foundation.