Legal Definitions - open shop

An open shop is a business establishment or place of employment where the employer hires workers without regard to their union affiliation. This means that the employer can hire both union and non-union workers.

For example, a construction company may hire both union and non-union workers for a project. The company does not require its employees to be members of a union to work for them.

Open shops are different from closed shops, which are illegal under the federal Labor-Management Relations Act. Closed shops are businesses where the employer only hires union members in good standing.

Open shops are also different from union shops, where the employer may hire non-union employees on the condition that they join a union within a specified time.

Overall, open shops give workers the freedom to choose whether or not they want to join a union.