Agency Shop and Fair Share Agreements: An Historical Perspective

Beverly L. Nelson-Glode

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DOI: 10.2190/5X1Y-N6VA-A0P2-U5B0

Abstract

To block employers' attempts to defeat fledgling unions, and to keep established unions from raiding their ranks, early labor organizations often insisted on including language in the collective bargaining agreement to protect the union's status. These agreements have evolved from requiring union membership as a condition of employment to requiring nonunion employees to pay a fair share of the costs of collective bargaining. This article explores the evolution of agency shop and fair share agreements from a perspective of employee protests against the use of mandatory union fees.

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