salting

Salting occurs when union organizers apply for jobs with nonunion firms in hopes of either getting hired and organizing a union or, if not hired, filing charges with the NLRB accusing the firm of discriminating against them because they are pro-union. The "salt" normally ends up violating company rules until he/she is fired, or voluntarily quits. The union then files an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB, charging that the company discriminated against the salt. Though salting could be considered morally wrong, it is, unfortunately, not illegal.

Union salting tactics often result in abuse of the hiring process and in the harassment of employers without serving the interests of any genuine employees. There are many ways a union would commit an act of “salting”. In some cases the union sends the company numerous resumes of members of the local, requesting jobs with the company. Often, the "applicants" don't even know they have "applied" for a job at the company. Other instances involve a union sending out a member/employee to apply for a job, while wearing union hat and clothi...