The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation enacting Right-to-Work in 1947. Virginia is currently one of 27 Right-to-Work states.
Virginia’s Right-to-Work statute can be found in the Code of Virginia § 40.1-58 through 40.1-69. The statute states that “It is hereby declared to be the public policy of Virginia that the right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or nonmembership in any labor union or labor organization.” The code also makes clear that employers can’t require employees to join a union, abstain from union membership, or require payment of dues as a condition of employment. This statute protects the freedom of employees to make the choice of whether to join a union.
These long-standing Right-to-Work policies have fueled Virginia’s success and remain in place to ensure the Commonwealth’s continued economic growth.
New Study: Repealing Right-to-Work Would Cost Virginia Billions
A new economic analysis from Mangum Economics, commissioned by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, confirms what decades of experience have shown: Right-to-Work laws are a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and higher wages. As lawmakers consider proposals to repeal Virginia’s long-standing Right-to-Work statute, the data makes clear what’s at stake.
Key Findings
If Virginia were to repeal Right-to-Work and begin performing like non-Right-to-Work states, the Commonwealth could face severe economic losses over the next decade including:
Loss in Gross State Product
Reduction in Personal Income
Fewer Businesses
Private-Sector Jobs Lost
(~ 26,000 manufacturing jobs)
Lower Average Annual Wages per Worker
In the Private Construction Industry
Right-to-Work States Outperform
The study also finds that states with Right-to-Work laws consistently outperform non-Right-to-Work states:
- 7.2 million net in-migration to Right-to-Work states since 2010
- 7.1 million net out-migration from non-Right-to-Work states since 2010
- Faster growth in jobs, wages, business formation, and personal income
The Bottom Line
Right-to-Work protects workers’ freedom to choose whether to join or financially support a union, and it helps make Virginia a place where businesses invest, jobs are created, and wages grow. Repealing it would be a step backward for Virginia’s economy, workers, and communities.
Read the full report and take action to protect Right-to-Work.
Survey Data
In recent years multiple polls of Virginia voters have been conducted which show overwhelming support for Virginia’s status as a Right-to-Work state.
In 2025 Virginia FREE commissioned a poll conducted jointly by Republican and Democratic polling firms. The poll found: 89% of Virginians support Right-to-Work.
When hearing the statement:
“Workers should never be forced against their will to join a union or pay dues to a union as part of their job.”
The poll also asked this question about union dues:
- (Some/Other) people say that union dues often go to political candidates and causes, so each worker should be able to decide for themselves if they want to pay union dues.
- (Some/Other) people say that union contracts cover all workers, so all workers covered by union contracts should pay at least some union dues.
of respondents overwhelmingly chose that workers should decide for themselves if they will pay union dues.
A 2020 Virginia-specific poll from Public Opinion Strategies found:
68% of Virginia voters favor keeping Right-to-Work laws, including:
of voters oppose repealing the part of Virginia’s Right-to-Work statute that prevents employees from being fired if they choose not to join a union or pay fees to a union.
strongly oppose repeal of this part, compared to just 32% who support repeal.
of voters believe that:
“no American worker should be required to join or pay fees to any private organization, even a labor union, if they choose not to.”
of voters agree:
“when a union chooses to represent all employees in the workplace, it is only fair that those employees pay fees to the union.”
