agency shop

An agency shop is a type of labor agreement where employees in a unionized workplace are required to pay union fees or dues, even if they choose not to join the union directly. This arrangement ensures that everyone who benefits from the union's collective bargaining still contributes to covering the costs of negotiations and services provided. It balances the union’s efforts to represent all employees with individual workers’ rights not to be compelled to join the union, while still supporting the union’s ongoing work on their behalf.