Status of collective bargaining rights for state and local public workers, by state
| State | Status code | Status of collective bargaining laws |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Alaska | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Arizona | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Arkansas | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| California | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Colorado | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Connecticut | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Washington D.C. | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Delaware | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Florida | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Georgia | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Hawaii | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Idaho | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Illinois | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Indiana | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Iowa | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Kansas | 3 | Kansas law covers local governments only if they opt in. |
| Kentucky | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Louisiana | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Maine | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Maryland | 3 | Maryland has no state law covering local employees. The largest local jurisdictions have their own laws. |
| Massachusetts | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Michigan | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Minnesota | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Mississippi | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Missouri | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Montana | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Nebraska | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Nevada | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| New Hampshire | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| New Jersey | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| New Mexico | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| New York | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| North Carolina | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| North Dakota | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Ohio | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Oklahoma | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Oregon | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Rhode Island | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| South Carolina | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| South Dakota | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Tennessee | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Texas | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Utah | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Vermont | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| Virginia | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Washington | 1 | Laws provide collective bargaining rights to a majority of public employees. |
| West Virginia | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Wisconsin | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
| Wyoming | 2 | No comprehensive bargaining laws. Some of these states have laws covering various groups of employees. In some states, local jurisdictions have passed laws. |
While federal laws provide most private-sector workers and federal government workers with the right to unionize and bargain collectively, there is as of yet no federal law guaranteeing that right for state and local government workers like teachers. A patchwork of state laws provides inconsistent rights for these public workers.
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees analysis, August 2020.