“The AFL-CIO is preparing for a national convention in September at which it will consider opening its ranks to workers who aren’t members of or represented by unions, or (sic) creating an omnibus organization of both union members and non-members,” wrote Harold Meyerson in an American Prospect article last week.

In other words the AFL-CIO  would create grassroots groups for people they have little hope of ever formally organizing.  Instead these people would take part in grassroots pro-union activism at the state level, particularly for living wage ordinances.

Pushing these so-called “living wage” bills — essentially hikes in minimum wage laws, but usually targeted at non-union businesses — is a strategy unions have increasing been turning to.