H.R. 1232: National Right-to-Work Act
Sponsor
Joe Wilson
Republican · SC-2
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why it matters
This matters now because Congress is revisiting union power and worker choice at a moment of renewed labor activism, red-state right-to-work expansion, and sharp partisan fights over workplace rules.
The bill is short but sweeping. It removes parts of the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act that currently allow union-security clauses. That means the change would affect not just many private-sector workplaces, but also rail and airline workers covered by the separate railway labor law. With 123 cosponsors, the bill has strong backing among House Republicans, but its path in the Senate would likely be much tougher.
What does H.R. 1232 do?
Bans mandatory union payments nationwide
Employers and unions could no longer require workers to pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job.
Makes union support fully voluntary
Workers would keep the legal right to join, assist, or support a union, but they would also have an explicit federal right to refuse without losing employment.
Overrides states that allow union-security deals
States that currently permit contracts requiring dues or fees in unionized workplaces would effectively be preempted by the new federal rule.
Changes core private-sector labor law
The bill strikes language in the National Labor Relations Act that now allows certain union-security agreements in private-sector workplaces.
Applies to rail and airline labor law too
It also removes the Railway Labor Act provision that allows union-shop agreements, extending the change to railroad and airline workers.
Who benefits from H.R. 1232?
Nonunion workers in unionized workplaces
They could keep their jobs without paying dues or fees to a union they do not want to support.
Workers with political or personal objections to unions
They would gain stronger legal protection to opt out of financially supporting union activity.
Employers in unionized industries
They may face unions with less revenue and potentially less bargaining leverage over time.
Right-to-work advocates and business groups
They would achieve a long-sought national policy that aligns federal law with their view of worker freedom and labor markets.
Who is affected by H.R. 1232?
Labor unions
They would likely lose dues and fee revenue from workers who remain covered by union contracts but choose not to pay.
Union members
They could see their unions operating with fewer resources for bargaining, grievance handling, and organizing.
Workers in states without right-to-work laws
The biggest legal change would hit these workers because current state rules allowing mandatory fees would no longer apply.
Railroad and airline employees
They would be affected because the bill also changes the labor law that governs their industries, not just standard private-sector labor law.
H.R. 1232 Common Questions
Can a job require you to pay union dues under the National Right-to-Work Act?
No. Under the National Right-to-Work Act, employers and unions could not require union dues or fees as a condition of getting or keeping a job by removing NLRA union-security authority (SEC. 2).
Does the National Right-to-Work Act apply to airline and railroad workers?
Yes. Under the National Right-to-Work Act, the bill strikes Railway Labor Act Section 2, paragraph Eleventh, which is the provision allowing union-shop agreements for rail and airline workers (SEC. 3).
Can you refuse to join a union and still keep your job under HR 1232?
Yes. According to H.R. 1232 Section 2, workers would retain the right to join or assist a union, but the bill removes federal language allowing membership to be required for employment.
Does HR 1232 override states that still allow union-security agreements?
Effectively yes. Under the National Right-to-Work Act (SEC. 2 and SEC. 3), federal law would no longer authorize union-security clauses under the NLRA or Railway Labor Act, displacing contrary state allowances.
Which part of the Railway Labor Act would HR 1232 repeal?
H.R. 1232 would strike Section 2, paragraph Eleventh of the Railway Labor Act in full, according to SEC. 3 of the National Right-to-Work Act.
What are the NLRA sections changed by the National Right-to-Work Act?
According to the National Right-to-Work Act, SEC. 2 amends NLRA Sections 7, 8(a)(3), 8(b)(2), 8(b)(5), and 8(f) to remove language tied to union-security agreements.
Does the bill eliminate union-shop agreements in private-sector workplaces?
Yes. Under the National Right-to-Work Act (SEC. 2), the bill deletes NLRA Section 8(a)(3) language that allows agreements requiring union membership as a condition of employment.
Does the National Right-to-Work Act change construction industry prehire agreement rules?
Yes. Under the National Right-to-Work Act, SEC. 2 strikes NLRA Section 8(f)(2) and renumbers later paragraphs, removing the union-security-related paragraph from the construction prehire section.
Is there any fine or penalty in HR 1232 for mandatory union dues?
No new fine or dollar penalty appears in the bill text. According to H.R. 1232 Sections 2 and 3, it works by repealing the legal authority for union-security agreements rather than adding new penalties.
Based on H.R. 1232 bill text
HR1232 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Joe Wilson
Republican, South Carolina's 2nd congressional district · 25 years in Congress
Committees: Armed Services, Education and Workforce, Foreign Affairs
View full profile →
Cosponsors (123)
All 123 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 34 states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, and 31 more.
Ben Cline
Republican · VA
Daniel Webster
Republican · FL
Scott Perry
Republican · PA
Darrell Issa
Republican · CA
Russ Fulcher
Republican · ID
Gary Palmer
Republican · AL
John Moolenaar
Republican · MI
Earl Carter
Republican · GA
Randy Weber
Republican · TX
Harriet Hageman
Republican · WY
Kat Cammack
Republican · FL
Scott Fitzgerald
Republican · WI
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
9 of 36 committee members cosponsored
12 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 1232 change?
3 changes
Sections Amended
Section 7 of National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 157)
striking ``except to'' and all that follows through ``authorized in section 8(a)(3)''
Section 8(f) of National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158(f))
striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively
Section 2 of Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 152)
striking paragraph Eleventh
H.R. 1232 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Labor and Employment
- Introduced
- Feb 12, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Feb 12, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with full text, cosponsors, and legislative actions for the National Right-to-Work Act.
NLRB overview of employee rights under the NLRA, including the right to join or refrain from union activity.
Explains current federal rules on union-security agreements and dues requirements that this bill would eliminate.
Federal protections for employees who choose not to participate in union organizing or concerted activity.
Full text of the NLRA whose Sections 7, 8(a)(3), 8(b)(2), 8(b)(5), and 8(f) would be amended by this bill.
The U.S. Code section guaranteeing employees the right to organize and bargain collectively, which this bill amends.
The Railway Labor Act section whose paragraph Eleventh (union-shop authority for rail and airline workers) this bill would strike.
The committee to which H.R. 1232 was referred for consideration.
Who is lobbying on H.R. 1232?
3 organizations lobbying on this bill
NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK COMMITTEE | 4 |
AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATIONS | 3 |
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION | 1 |
Showing 1-3 of 3 organizations
H.R. 1232 Bill Text
“To preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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