Alabama voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday that added a right-to-work provision to the state constitution.
The strong approval will not affect state laws significantly. Alabama has had a right-to-work law on the books since 1953. Conservative and business groups pushed to add it to the state constitution to further shore it up.
Currently, 26 states have versions of right-to-work laws. The laws state that workers cannot be forced to join or otherwise financially support a union as a condition of employment. In states without the laws, union leaders typically insist that their contracts with management include provisions forcing the workers to support the union.
Supporters of right-to-work say workers shouldn’t be coerced into supporting unions. Union leaders despise the laws, which are associated with declining membership and depleted treasuries.
