Federal & State Regulations | Unions - Texas | J. J. Keller® Compliance Network

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Texas has extensive labor relations laws. These provide for protections similar to the National Labor Relations Act and Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act regarding union activity in private sector workplaces.

Texas requires, among other things, that:

All persons engaged in any kind of labor may associate and form trade unions and other organizations to protect themselves in their personal labor in their respective employment.
A person by peaceful and lawful means may induce or attempt to induce another to enter or refuse to enter a particular employment or quit a particular employment in which the other person is then engaged.
A member of a trade union or other organization may not enter the premises of another without the consent of the owner of the premises.
Contracts for withholding union dues from employee’s compensation are void without the employee’s consent.
A labor union may require more than a majority vote for the election of an officer, agent, organizer, or representative.
An election for labor union officers, agents, organizers, and representatives must be held at least once each year.
A labor union shall give members at least seven days’ notice of an election.
A person may not serve as a labor union officer or as a labor organizer if the person is an alien has been convicted of a felony.
A labor organizer operating in Texas must apply in writing for an organizer’s card before soliciting members for the organizer's organization.
A union member who, because of service with the United States armed forces, has been unable to pay any dues or assessment levied by a union to which the member belonged may not be required to make the back payments as a condition to reinstatement in good standing as a member.
A labor union may not refuse to give a person desiring membership in the union a reasonable time after obtaining the promise of employment in which to decide whether to join the union as a condition of employment.
A labor union may not expel a union member without good cause and without a fair and public hearing.

Right to work Texas does have a right to work law. A person may not be denied employment based on membership or nonmembership in a labor union. The right of a person to work may not be denied or abridged because of membership or nonmembership in a labor union or other labor organization. And it is prohibited for labor unions to collect fees as a work permit or condition to work from a person who is not a member of the union.

Contracts requiring or prohibiting labor union membership are void.