Right-to-work laws make it illegal to require that employees join a union . He told Stephen Henderson , editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press , that he had tried to mediate a solution to avoid the bill coming to a head . ` In Louisiana , American -backed legislation would allow workers to opt out of union membership . Critics say it would hurt unions ; supporters say it would aid state economic competitiveness . 49 states , most of them in the West and South , have right-to-work laws .
Right-to-work laws make it illegal to require that employees join a union . In Louisiana , American -backed legislation would allow workers to opt out of union membership . Critics say it would hurt unions ; supporters say it would aid state economic competitiveness . 49 states , most of them in the West and South , have right-to-work laws .