Owens Leads Legislation to Expose Union Backroom Deals

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT) introduced the Start Applying Labor Transparency (SALT) Act to amend the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, requiring greater transparency in financial transactions between unions and labor consultants, closing loopholes that have allowed backroom deals to thrive.

“Imagine working hard every day, only to find out that the person next to you—someone you trust as a coworker—is secretly on a union’s payroll, pushing its agenda without your knowledge,” said Rep. Owens. “Powerful unions and their high-paid consultants have operated in the shadows for too long, cutting backroom deals at the expense of hard working Americans. The SALT Act shines a light on these hidden transactions, ensuring every worker knows exactly where their money is going.”

Background on the SALT Act:

• Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to require labor organizations to disclose payments, loans, or financial arrangements with consultants hired to influence employees’ decisions regarding unionization.
• Ensures that all labor-related financial transactions, including payments made to persuade employees about collective bargaining, are fully reported to the Department of Labor.
• Closes reporting loopholes that have shielded labor unions from disclosing financial ties that could influence workplace organizing efforts.
• Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue necessary regulations within six months of the bill’s enactment.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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