LABOR UNION MEMBERSHIP

Iowa Code tit. XVI, ch. 731

in effect

Iowa Code § 731.1 Right to join union.

731.1. Right to join union. It is declared to be the policy of the state of Iowa that no person within its boundaries shall be deprived of the right to work at the person’s chosen occupation for any employer because of membership in, affiliation with, withdrawal or expulsion from, or refusal to join, any labor union, organization, or association, and any contract which contravenes this policy is illegal and void. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.1; C79, 81, §731.1]

Iowa Code § 731.2 Refusal to employ prohibited.

731.2. Refusal to employ prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to refuse or deny employment to any person because of membership in, or affiliation with, or resignation or withdrawal from, a labor union, organization or association, or because of refusal to join or affiliate with a labor union, organization or association. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.2; C79, 81, §731.2]

Iowa Code § 731.3 Contracts to exclude unlawful.

731.3. Contracts to exclude unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, corporation or labor organization to enter into any understanding, contract, or agreement, whether written or oral, to exclude from employment members of a labor union, organization or association, or persons who do not belong to, or who refuse to join, a labor union, organization or association, or because of resignation or withdrawal therefrom. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.3; C79, 81, §731.3]

Iowa Code § 731.4 Union dues as prerequisite to employment — prohibited.

731.4. Union dues as prerequisite to employment — prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, labor organization or corporation, or political subdivision, either directly or indirectly, or in any manner or by any means as a prerequisite to or a condition of employment to require any person to pay dues, charges, fees, contributions, fines or assessments to any labor union, labor association or labor organization. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.4; C79, 81, §731.4]

Iowa Code § 731.5 Deducting dues from pay unlawful.

731.5. Deducting dues from pay unlawful. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, labor organization or corporation to deduct labor organization dues, charges, fees, contributions, fines or assessments from an employee’s earnings, wages or compensation, unless the employer has first been presented with an individual written order therefor signed by the employee, which written order shall be terminable at any time by the employee giving at least thirty days’ written notice of such termination to the employer. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.5; C79, 81, §731.5]

Iowa Code § 731.6 Penalty.

731.6. Penalty. Any person, firm, association, labor organization, or corporation or any director, officer, representative, agent or member thereof, who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or who shall aid and abet in such violation shall be guilty of a serious misdemeanor. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.6; C79, 81, §731.6]

Iowa Code § 731.7 Injunction.

731.7. Injunction. Additional to the penal provisions of this chapter, any person, firm, corporation, association, or any labor union, labor association or labor organization, or any officer, representative, agent or member thereof may be restrained by injunction from doing or continuing to do any of the matters and things prohibited by this chapter, and all of the provisions of the law relating to the granting of restraining orders and injunctions, either temporary or permanent, shall be applicable. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.7; C79, 81, §731.7]

Iowa Code § 731.8 Exception.

731.8. Exception. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to employers or employees covered by the federal Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. §151 et seq. [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §736A.8; C79, 81, §731.8] 2011 Acts, ch 34, §149

Iowa Code § 731.9 Relinquishment of seniority rights as a condition of employment prohibited.

731.9. Relinquishment of seniority rights as a condition of employment prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to refuse or deny employment to a person because the person refuses to relinquish seniority rights earned at a prior place of employment. 86 Acts, ch 1089, §1

Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=731&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026