Yellow Dog Contract

A Yellow Dog Contract is a type of employment contract that requires an employee to agree not to join or support a labor union as a condition of employment. Such contracts were commonly used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to prevent workers from organizing and forming unions.

The term 'yellow dog' refers to the idea that an employee who signed such a contract was seen as a 'yellow dog' or a traitor to the labor movement. The use of Yellow Dog Contracts was widespread until the passage of the Norris-LaGuardia Act in 1932, which made them unenforceable in federal courts.

Today, the use of Yellow Dog Contracts is illegal under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which guarantees workers the right to form, join, and support labor unions, as well as to engage in collective bargaining and other activities related to improving working conditions and wages. Any employer who attempts to enforce a Yellow Dog Contract can be subject to legal action and penalties under the NLRA.