Starcon International, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board

**What Happened** Starcon International, Inc. was accused of discriminating against union organizers who applied for jobs at the company. These organizers, called "salts," were union supporters who sought employment specifically to help organize workers from the inside. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Starcon illegally refused to hire these applicants because of their union activities and ordered the company to stop this discrimination. **What the Court Decided** The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals largely sided with the NLRB. The court confirmed that Starcon had illegally discriminated against union organizers and upheld the order telling the company to stop this practice. However, the court limited the remedy to only two organizers who had testified they would have actually accepted job offers if hired. The union had wanted broader relief for more organizers. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that employers cannot refuse to hire people simply because they support unions or engage in organizing activities. However, workers seeking remedies must be able to prove they genuinely wanted the job, not just the opportunity to organize. The decision protects workers' rights to union activity while requiring clear evidence of actual harm.