Anyone here familiar w. the Association for Union Democracy?

[Smarmie Doofus]

And/or its work?

http://aud2.uniondemocracy.org

And/or the writings of Herman Benson?



Tell me about it.

[Brickbat]

1. It focuses on upholding the democratic process within unions and works against corruption, bloc

voting, and the dilution of democracy among unions.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Thanks. Have you ever seen them up close?

i.e. When they were involved in an actual intra-union struggle?

Can you recommend any sort of third-party, objective journalistic-type account that describes how they contributed to a specific struggle?

Finally... in your estimation, is AUD well known in nat'l labor movement circles?

Thanks again.

[Brickbat]

3. We get their newsletter and honestly, I find it difficult to get a read on them.

Any reform movement runs the risk of turning reactionary or being used by the opposition. They did a lot of work internally with the Teamsters and I know some Carpenters have looked into them as well. They're more focused on trade than craft though IIRC.

As far as I know, there isn't a lot of third-party writing about them, since most of their work is meant to be internal. I think I've seen outside sources cite them to prove the corruption of major union movements -- which again is a risk you run as a reform organization.

I'd guess they're well-known among major leadership, but not so much the rank and file.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Outstanding info. Thanks. Yes....

I can see the risk of RWers piggy-backing on work done by real union reformers.

I'll take it from here. There must be *some* untainted material online, somewhere.

Thanks again.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Here is a good reply from another union member

Hey Steve,

You'll get hearty endorsement of AUD from majority of senior members of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), where I worked in the 1990s.

Starting in the second half of the '80s MEBA was wracked by civil war, as a rank-and-file group sought to oust a corrupt incumbent administration. In the early days, the insurgents went to AUD for help and got it. I personally knew some of insurgents and they always spoke highly of AUD.

Only problem is AUD has no money. They are generous with moral support and good advice, but if you need money to pay for lawyers or other campaign expense you have to go elsewhere.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Thanks Steve.

I'm getting a better picture now.