The free rider argument of right-to-work opponents is nonsense. Unions are not required to negotiate on behalf of non-members under right-to-work laws. In fact, they often don’t.
Under the National Labor Relations Act, unions are free to represent all employees – not just union members – at the bargaining table. But they are not required to do so.
“The National Labor Relations Act does not mandate unions exclusively represent all employees, but permits them to electively do so,” explained Heritage’s James Sherk in a Monday column. ”Under the Act, unions can also negotiate ‘members-only’ contracts that only cover dues-paying members. They do not have to represent other employees.”
Not that the majority of union dues go to employee representation anyway. How much do unions spend on representation rather than political activities or support for the union leadership? It varies but it is almost always a minority of funds collected.