The New Face of American Unions: How An Illogical “Yogi-ism” Fits

Yogi Berra, passed away yesterday. He was famous for making up illogical sayings that had the essence of truth, such as: “When you reach a fork in the road, take it!” This applies to today’s American unions. For 70 years, they have tried to formally organize employees into collective bargaining units. Their goal was to bargain wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. After 40 years of adverse legal rulings, unions are finding it more advantageous, at times, to form employees into worker committees—without taking the next step of petitioning for an election. Ironically, these worker committees may have more potency than a formal union. One example: the SEIU’s $15 per hour wage push, which has been more productive for fast food employees than formal union organizing. For more on this second fork in the road for unions, see this New York Times article.