No cross-fertilization occurs, except sporadically when a good listserve like PubLabor has a contributor highlight an infotech gain. The time is at hand for the AFL-CIO and particularly assertive affiliates to consider adoption of the CyberUnion model, an intriguing 21st century approach to modern trade unionism in general, and to organizing in particular. Marked by enthusiasm for on-coming Age of Information, it is creative in making the most of what other frustrated unions find daunting in the extreme. In this way it will facilitate both the organizing of new, and of organized members. It will employ infotech tools to survey members and ascertain preferences and priorities among major questions confronting the organization.
Every effort is made to improve member participation in union policy-making.
It will make all of its officers and staffers accessible to members via e-mail, and promise personal responses within 72 hours of a message's receipt. It will update its infotech infrastructure regularly. It will take pride both in being at the cutting-edge, and, in making a special effort to take the membership there with it. These six attributes should help put labor unions on a par with the CyberCorps rapidly coming their way. Unions uniquely blend humanistic, ethical, and materialistic con-cerns.