In the US, labor unions are required by federal law to negotiate pay and benefits on behalf of all employees at a particular workplace, rather than just their o

In the US, labor unions are required by federal law to negotiate pay and benefits on behalf of all employees at a particular workplace, rather than just their own members. Because of this requirement, some people argue in favor of permitting mandatory union membership, on the basis that without it, individual workers can free-ride, enjoying the superior pay and benefits the union negotiates on their behalf without joining and paying union dues. Others argue that forcing people to join a union and pay dues is illiberal, and should be outlawed. This is the crux of the "right-to-work law" debate, where "right-to-work" describes laws that make it illegal to require union membership as a condition of employment. Personally, I find it odd that federal law requires labor unions to negotiate on behalf of non-members, but I am also not particularly well informed on the topic.