Insider View of Union Salting

by | Feb 4, 2011 | Labor Relations Ink

If you want to get a union’s perspective on the tactics and strategy behind salting employers, head over to this site managed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 363 and study up! If you are wondering what “salting” means, let’s read it right from the site:

“ ’Salting’ is the deliberate act of getting a job at a specific workplace with the intent to organize a union. Most union campaigns start with a lone individual or small group of individuals with no union experience deciding to organize a union from scratch. Sometimes, a union campaign can be strengthened if you know of a friend with union organizing experience. By applying for open positions at your workplace, your friend can secretly help you organize your workplace. There are other circumstances where salting is used.”

Here are some of the tactics encouraged of salts:

• If possible, get a list of all employees, or make one of your own. If you can, try to include home addresses and telephone numbers. • Write down useful information about your co-workers-their jobs, their skill level, their attitude toward management, their Union history and so on. • Write notes on everything that happens that might be important-things people say about the job or the company, disciplinary actions, problems that come up at work, health and safety issues and so on.

Under “taking notes” about employees, salts are told, “If you can’t get anything else, write down vehicle license number.” It has been demonstrated before that unions will illegally access Department of Motor Vehicle records and use license numbers to obtain other information about employees.

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