Practical Law Glossary Item 3-508-5479 (Approx. 4 pages)
Glossary
Union Shop
Workplace where an employee, to retain his job, must join a union (representing the employer's workforce) within a certain time frame set by the employer and the union.
A union may form a union shop by negotiating for a collective bargaining agreement clause, which requires an employer to remove an employee from a union-represented position at the union's request if the employee does not join the union within a specified time. This period is often one month after hire or transfer into a position represented by the union. The clause is generally called a union shop clause and is one of several types of union security clauses historically used to ensure that employees are excluded from the bargaining unit if they either:
Do not support the union.
Do not wish to pay union dues associated with union membership.