CONSCIENTIOUS-OBJECTOR OR FREE RIDER - THE RIGHT-TO-WORK JURISPRUDENCE AND THE SHIFT TOWARD INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS

Union membership has declined over the past several decades. While man y socioeconomic factors contribute to this trend, state-enacted, right -to-work laws in particular frustrate the efforts of organized labor. This article focuses on employees who hold conscientious objections to union membership and dues and the manner in which the federal judicia ry responds to these disputes, and reveals the emergence of a right-to -work jurisprudence that stands to further diminish the efficacy of co llective bargaining.