According to Ricardo Torres, a former high-ranking union official:
“Salting is the practice of sending in union members into a non-union workplace in an attempt to launch an organizing campaign towards an election. Salting is commonly done with the intent of going unnoticed by the target company as means of gathering information used to organize the workforce”.
Torres warns companies that Salters can also come to your workplace, dressed in union clothing (buttons, hats) to apply for a job. When the applicant is not interviewed and/or hired, the company can receive an unfair labor practice (ULP).
Union Salting Facts:
- Is a protected activity ensuring the workers’ rights to organize.
- The Salter will keep detailed notes and logs regarding the company’s activities.
- The Salter will participate in concerted activity (pass out union authorization cards for employees to sign).
- Search for unfair labor practices that the company is engaging in.
- Provide the union with information about the company and employee activities.
- The Salter will try to hide their union involvement from the management but not the employees s/he is trying to organize.
- The Salt will try to gather as many company documents as possible to provide union leadership with intelligence about the management. Documents such as company policies, safety policies, newsletters, employee lists, employee complaints, etc.
- The Salt will look for potential violations of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) such as if management asked employees if they signed union cards.
Managers should be trained on salter tactics as well as violations of the National Labor Relations Act. Remember the T.I.P.S. Company’s cannot Threaten, Interrogate, Promise or Spy employees.
Reference: Torres, R. 2011, Permanent Solutions Labor Consultants, Overview of Union Salting Tactics.
