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Call it a "Back to the Future" approach for union organizing. Though Employee Councils are among the latest trends in organizing, they are anything but new.

When Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, members-only unions were considered a highly effective organizing tool. Membership grew steadily as unions -- like the United Steelworkers -- bargained improvements only for the workers they represented.

In the 80 years since, times have changed and so has the approach to organizing. Today, NLRB-sanctioned elections are the most popular way to gain union recognition. Elections take place in nearly every organizing campaign. 

When a simple majority of workers vote in favor of the union, that union is allowed to represent and bargain for all the workers. Though the current system is not completely fair – workers in "right-to-work" states can enjoy union benefits without paying union dues -– it has been the accepted practice for years.

That all may be about to change as the Steelworkers plan to re-visit members-only organizing. To jump-start the cause, the USW has started Employee Councils in Virginia, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

"There are several benefits to members-only Employee Councils," according to USW Organizing Director Mike Yoffee. "The first is that the Councils can get up and running pretty quickly. With enough interest, they can begin operating and functioning like a union in a matter of weeks. With some effective instruction from the USW, committees can be established that begin addressing the concerns of the employees right away."

"Today’s workers also have rights through agencies such as OSHA (the Occupational Safety & Health Administration) and programs such as the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that sadly, many workers just do not understand," Yoffee said. "The Steelworkers can educate our Councils on these programs in short time. Programs such as these can begin to make a positive change in today’s workplace."

"While the technique may be different, it’s still about workers gaining a voice in their workplace," Yoffee said.

Find out more about Employee Councils by calling

the USW toll-free at 1-800-472-3165 or 1-877-511-8792