Illinois now recognizes, as a fundamental right, the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing. 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. 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. To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. 1819: The Apprenticeship Law provided the first protection for minors in Illinois. For more than 160 years Union Pacific has been devoted to highlighting the employees that make our business possible. As of April 2019, Illinois is not a righttowork state. "Right to work" refers to an employee's ability to work for an employer without joining a union or paying agency fees for representation. Work in a manner that results in the displacement of any covered employee.