Not all states have "right to work" laws. Learn what these laws mean, how they impact unions, and whether your state has a 'right to work' law at FindLaw.Want to understand right-to-work laws better? Learn everything you need to know about 2024 right-to-work states in our guide. A: The term "righttowork" is often misunderstood. Federal law already prohibits employers from forcing an employee to join a union. No, Illinois is not a right-to-work state, meaning employees are not exempt from paying union dues or fees as a condition of employment. Right-to-work is a term describing state legislation that prohibits employees from being required to join or financially support a labor union. By passing the Workers' Rights Amendment, Illinois became the fourth state in the country to protect collective bargaining in its constitution. Indeed, Florida is a right to work state, as is Georgia.