CHANGE: What Happens When A State No Longer Forces Workers Into A Union? They Quit Paying The Dues. “That’s the reason that the PEUs hit the panic button in February 2011. They knew that the law would severely cut into their membership once the state refused to force dues payments as a condition of employment. This also undermines the credibility of union leaders who claim to speak for public-sector workers, as it shows a significant number of them don’t support the union at all, especially in the literal sense now.” Not enough value-added, apparently.