They'd rather go to a ball game than attend a union rally, no matter how worthy the issue. They spend a lot of money on the apparel of their favorite teams. They read the sports pages daily and talk about last night's games. There's very little going on in the union that interests them except around contract time. And they get no special attention from union officers, nor are they given assignments that interest them.
Unions can capitalize on their young members' interest in sports.
There could be tournaments between international unions. There is no reason why the AFL-CIO couldn't organize an annual marathon in which the entrants would have to be union members. These activities would provide opportunities for members to display their athletic talents and would gain favorable publicity for the unions. Similarly, unions could attract participation from members who are talented in music and art. There are outstanding amateur musicians in the labor movement who could be recruited into a national labor orchestra or choral group.