Title 29 — LaborRelease 119-73
§103 Nonenforceability of undertakings in conflict with public policy; “yellow dog” contracts
Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 6— - JURISDICTION OF COURTS IN MATTERS AFFECTING EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE › § 103
Summary
Says certain promises in hiring or job contracts are illegal and cannot be enforced by U.S. courts or used to get legal relief. Covers any promise, written or spoken, between an employer (like a person, company, or association) and an employee or job applicant. Includes promises where either side agrees not to join or stay in a labor union or employer group, or promises to quit or end the job if they join or stay in such a group.
Full Legal Text
Title 29, §103
Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any undertaking or promise, such as is described in this section, or any other undertaking or promise in conflict with the public policy declared in section 102 of this title, is declared to be contrary to the public policy of the United States, shall not be enforceable in any court of the United States and shall not afford any basis for the granting of legal or equitable relief by any such court, including specifically the following: Every undertaking or promise hereafter made, whether written or oral, express or implied, constituting or contained in any contract or agreement of hiring or employment between any individual, firm, company, association, or corporation, and any employee or prospective employee of the same, whereby (a) Either party to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises not to join, become, or remain a member of any labor organization or of any employer organization; or (b) Either party to such contract or agreement undertakes or promises that he will withdraw from an employment relation in the event that he joins, becomes, or remains a member of any labor organization or of any employer organization.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 103
Title 29 — Labor
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73