North Carolina News & Legislation

Right to Work State

North Carolina is a Right to Work State. Employees who work in North Carolina, except on federal property or for a railway or airline, have a right to resign from union membership and not pay union dues or fees. If you are an employee in North Carolina and have legal questions regarding your union membership, click here to learn about your rights.

North Carolina Right to Work News

» Staunchly Pro-Right to Work Senator Mourned

August 15, 2008 - Jesse Helms Lauded For His Principles, Legislative Skills (PDF viewer required to view this document)

» Call Him 'Brad "Nowhere to Flee" Sherman'

August 6, 2008 - Launch of Right to Work Repeal Tips Big Labor's Hand For 2009 (PDF viewer required to view this document)

» Families Flee Compulsory-Unionism States

May 26, 2008 - 'Right to Work States Are Simply Better For Raising Children' (PDF viewer required to view this document)

» Committee PAC Aids Pro-Right to Work Candidates

April 7, 2008 - Union Bosses Have Already Begun Their Federal Electoral Assault (PDF viewer required to view this document)

» Right to Work States Excel in Manufacturing

August 20, 2007 - Since 2000, Output Growth More Than Triple Forced-Dues States' (PDF viewer required to view this document)

North Carolina Congressional Representatives

Contact your North Carolina Congressmen to voice your support for Right to Work! We need help from grassroots supporters like you to protect workers' rights and to stop Big Labor's rampant abuses. If you don't know your North Carolina Congressional District, enter your ZIP Code and your ZIP+4 extension below to look it up:

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House District Name Contact / Website
Senate S1 Sen. Richard Burr (R) Contact / Website
Senate S2 Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) Contact / Website
House 01 Rep. G K Butterfield (D) Contact / Website
House 02 Rep. Bob Etheridge (D) Contact / Website
House 03 Rep. Walter B Jr Jones (R) Contact / Website
House 04 Rep. David Price (D) Contact / Website
House 05 Rep. VA Foxx (R) Contact / Website
House 06 Rep. Howard Coble (R) Contact / Website
House 07 Rep. Mike McIntyre (D) Contact / Website
House 08 Rep. Robin Hayes (R) Contact / Website
House 09 Rep. Sue Myrick (R) Contact / Website
House 10 Rep. Patrick McHenry (R) Contact / Website
House 11 Rep. Heath Shuler (D) Contact / Website
House 12 Rep. Melvin L Watt (D) Contact / Website
House 13 Rep. Brad Miller (D) Contact / Website

North Carolina Legislative Alerts

Click here to access legislative alerts for North Carolina.

North Carolina Right to Work Law

N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 95-78. to 84.

ARTICLE 10.

Declaration of Policy as to Labor Organizations.

§ 95-78. Declaration of public policy.

The right to live includes the right to work. The exercise of the right to work must be protected and maintained free from undue restraints and coercion. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of North Carolina that the right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in any labor union or labor organization or association. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95-79. Certain agreements declared illegal.

Any agreement or combination between any employer and any labor union or labor organization whereby persons not members of such union or organization shall be denied the right to work for said employer, or whereby such membership is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or whereby any such union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any enterprise, is hereby declared to be against the public policy and an illegal combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce in the State of North Carolina. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95-80. Membership in labor organization as condition of employment prohibited.

No person shall be required by an employer to become or remain a member of any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95-81. Nonmembership as condition of employment prohibited.

No person shall be required by an employer to abstain or refrain from membership in any labor union or labor organization as a condition of employment or continuation of employment. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95.82. Payment of dues as condition of employment prohibited.

No employer shall require any person, as a condition of employment or continuation of employment, to pay any dues, fees, or other charges of any kind to any labor union or labor organization. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95-83. Recovery of damages by persons denied employment.

Any person who may be denied employment or be deprived of continuation of his employment in violation of G.S. 95-80, 95-81 and 95-82 or of one or more of such sections, shall be entitled to recover from such employer and from any other person, firm, corporation, or association acting in concert with him by appropriate action in the courts of this State such damages as he may have sustained by reason of such denial or deprivation of employment. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

§ 95-84. Application of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall not apply to any lawful contract in force on the effective date hereof but they shall apply in all respects to contracts entered into thereafter and to any renewal or extension of any existing contract. (Enacted March 18, 1947.)

NOTE: State laws are in a constant state of flux. Before relying on the text of any state Right to Work statute, you should check the most recent edition of your state laws.