On March 21, ABC wrote a letter in support of H.R. 7784, the Start Applying Labor Transparency Act or SALT Act (introduced by Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah), which would amend the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959. Its purpose is to clarify that labor organizations and their consultants must report when they engage in a coercive tactic known as “salting”—a process where unions send professionally trained organizers into merit shop workplaces under the guise of seeking employment.

ABC wrote, “The SALT Act provides workers with transparency and, at the same time, protects small businesses from the toxic work environment salts often seek to create. This saves businesses significant time, money and resources that would enable them to hire more employees, invest in equipment and secure more work to grow their companies and provide additional jobs in the community.”

According to Rep. Owens, the SALT Act enhances the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 by requiring labor organizations and individuals to file reports on payments, loans, agreements or arrangements made to influence employees’ organizational and bargaining rights, as well as receipts and disbursements related to labor relations services.

“Imagine a scenario where an employee, without the knowledge of their colleagues and employer, is receiving compensation from a union while advocating for its interests within the workplace,” said Rep. Owens in a press release introducing the legislation. “This deception not only breeds suspicion but also erodes the very foundation of trust and transparency between employers and employees. The SALT Act seeks to address this issue by requiring union salts to disclose their affiliation with the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring transparency and fairness in the workplace.”

On April 10, the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to support the SALT Act to protect workers, guarantee transparency in union organizing campaigns and ensure labor stability nationwide, saying, “Workers deserve transparency in the collective bargaining process, and this legislation would ensure workers know who is trying to persuade them.”

ABC applauds Rep. Owens for introducing the SALT Act and has urged members of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce to support the legislation and further efforts to promote transparency in the workplace and counter the detrimental effects of union salting.