On Monday, Jan. 9, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed into law the Kentucky Right to Work Act, making Kentucky the 27th state in the country to enact similar legislation. Similar to the Wisconsin Right to Work law, as well as the “right to work” laws enacted in the other 25 states, the Kentucky law prohibits mandatory union membership and mandatory payment of dues or fees to a union.

Although the Kentucky law went into effect immediately upon signing by Governor Bevin and will apply to any new collective bargaining agreements, the law does not apply to current collective bargaining agreements until those agreements are extended or renewed.

The Kentucky law also prohibits public employees from engaging in strikes or work stoppages.