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They might be banned but they certainly exist.

As a supermarket cashier I was told in no uncertain terms that I had to join the union as a condition of employment. No union, no job.

Because the supermarket decided to contract with the union and the two sides negotiated that provision. The company made that decision. Not the legislature.

The legislature made the decision that the supermarket is required to bargain (in good faith) with the union. Not doing so would be "unfair labor practices". This includes a lot of practices, including not being able to "Lock out employees over a permissive subject of bargaining" or "[...] require agreement on a permissive subject as a precondition to further bargaining" - https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/ba...

So you can be forced to pay dues but you don't have to be approved by the union.

With the important caveat that you can be charged agency fees.

In some states.