What is compulsory membership?

Compulsory membership, also known as mandatory union membership or closed shop, is a requirement that employees in a particular workplace or industry must be members of a trade union as a condition of employment. Under a compulsory membership arrangement, employers are prohibited from hiring non-union workers, and existing non-union employees may be required to join the union within a specified period of time as a condition of continued employment.

Compulsory membership arrangements are based on the idea that collective bargaining is most effective when all workers in a bargaining unit are represented by the union. Unions argue that compulsory membership helps to strengthen their bargaining power and improve working conditions for all employees, unionized and non-unionized alike. Compulsory membership arrangements also reduce free riding , a situation in which non-union employees benefit from union-negotiated contracts without bearing any of the costs of union membership ,

Compulsory membership arrangements can take several different forms. In some cases, employers and unions may voluntarily agree to closed shop or union security provisions through collective bargaining. In other cases, states or governments may establish compulsory membership provisions through legislation. The National Labor Relations Act allows compulsory membership clauses in states where they are explicitly provided for by statute