Legal Definitions - yellow dog contract

A yellow dog contract is an agreement between an employer and employee where the employee agrees not to join a labor union or work with other employees to form a union. These contracts were often required as a condition of employment. However, they are now illegal under federal and state laws.

• In New York, it is illegal for an employer to require an employee to sign a yellow dog contract as a condition of employment.
• The Norris-La Guardia Act of 1932 makes yellow dog contracts unenforceable in any court under federal law.
• Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act gives workers the right to form unions without interference from their employer.

These examples illustrate how yellow dog contracts are illegal and violate workers' rights to form unions. They also show how federal and state laws protect workers from these unfair practices.