"The Association for Union Democracy is a rare organization run by people who truly believe in protecting the rights of federal employees to participate in their labor union freely, openly, and fairly.
Our
unions are vital to our rights in the workplace and AUD is vital to insuring
that labor unions are democratic and just. Please pledge a contribution
to AUD in the CFC this year."
John Riordan
First Vice President AFGE Council 220, Employee of the SSA
Support
AUD:
CFC Code 2205
Federal Employees Right to Know
Recent stories from Union Democracy Review
See AUDLinks for Federal Employees' websites
AFGE, APWU, NAATS, NAGE,
NALC, NFFE, NLRBU,NPMHU, NRLC, NTEU
Federal
Employees: please give to the Association for Union Democracy in the combined
federal campaign. -- CFC Code 2205
Notice to federal employees re: the CFC
Several federal employees who have authorized donations to AUD under the salary deduction plan of the Combined Federal Campaign have complained that they have received no acknowledgement from us. The reason for our lack of response is that, unless federal employees authorize the CFC to release their names to us, we never know who gives through this program, and we never know how much the donor gives even if the name is released. We receive CFC payments in a lump sum amount, and no names are associated with the amount. For those that have authorized it, names are made available to us through a website, but we know that the names released to us are less than the total. If any of your colleagues complain to you, please explain and tell them to contact us directly.
Letter from Federal Employee unionists:
Fellow federal employees,
Its time for the Combined
Federal Campaign this year and AUD is on the list once again. The Association
for Union Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization, that
promotes the principles of democracy in our labor movement. AUD defends
the rights of free speech, fair elections, integrity, and due process
in trials for all members in their unions. It proclaims the idea that
union democracy means a stronger labor movement.
We are among the federal employees, at all levels, who authorize donations
to AUD. In 2003 we pledged over $7,800 to the CFC. AUD does more than
advocate general principles. It is an active force in defending the rights
of federal employees in their unions. On occasion, it has even prodded
the U. S. Labor Department to more forcefully protect our rights under
the Civil Service Reform Act. It publishes a valuable brochure entitled
"Democratic Rights in Federal Employee Unions."
We strongly urge you to select AUD as a recipient of your CFC payroll
deductions. It has no corporate or government financing. Its depends upon
our financial support. Its problem is to make known its existence and
its aims to federal employees, which is why we address this letter to
you. We would also suggest that you spread the word. Read this letter
and pass it on to another federal employee.
Eddie Abrams, APWU Local
2286
James Chiang, APWU Local 117
Marty Curtan, NALC Branch 5996, retired former President
William Fine, NALC Branch 34
Brian Keelan, NALC Branch 294, Secretary
Joe Palazzolo, AFGE Local 2488
Al Reavis, APWU Local 73, Secretary
John Ring, NALC Branch 294, Treasurer
John Riordan, AFGE Council 220
Kenneth Smith, NALC Pioneer Branch 2, Steward
Ray Tillman, NALC Branch 642, President
David Yao, Great Seattle APWU, Chief Steward
Letter from Carl Biers and Herman Benson:
Why support union democracy?
All employees, in government and private industry benefit when represented by good strong unions. This principle is so well widely understood that its basis is embodied in federal laws, like the National Labor Relations Act for private employees and the Civil Service Reform Act which protects the right of federal employees to collective bargaining.
But that's not the whole story. Unions are needed for protection against arrogant and arbitrary management. And union democracy is needed for protection against arrogant and arbitrary union officials. If unions are to serve members effectively, they must be controlled by their own members. Federal law established not only the right to form unions but the right of union members to free speech, fair elections, and due process in their unions.
Why support AUD?
In these days of lean and mean, of privatization, of layoffs and "reinventing government", management everywhere wants to do more and more with less and less. To make sure that the process is not arrantly arbitrary but at least minimally fair, you should be able to rely on the support of a good collective bargaining agent. Federal employee unions are willing to cooperate, no question about that. But they must be at least equally ready to protect the rights of their members to fair play.
If you want to be sure that your union fulfills that responsibility, you must be sure that it remains democratic and responsive to your needs, that it protects your local autonomy, your right to fair elections and free speech. That's where our AUD comes in.
AUD maintains a national network of union activists
and attorneys to assist those with union democracy problems. We publish
literature to keep unionists informed and to advise them of their rights.
We bring people together in conferences. In landmark union democracy cases,
some in the US Supreme Court, AUD and its cooperating attorneys have strengthened
the law on union democracy. For federal employees, we have issued a special
report, "Democratic Rights in Federal Employee Unions."
If all this sounds worthwhile, why not put
the Association for Union Democracy (Code No. 2205) on your
CFC list? In any event, you are welcome to a free
copy of our special report.
Sincerely,
Carl Biers, former AUD Executive Director; Herman Benson, AUD founder and Treasurer
You can also contribute online via our secure credit card service. If you want to contribute offline, give us a call at 718-564-1114 , or write us at AUD, 104 Montgomery Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11225; USA.
AUD Campaign for Federal Employees Right to Know
Section 105 of the LMRDA requires unions in the private sector to inform members of the provisions of federal law protecting their rights. But it is enforceable only by private suit. A bill is pending in Congress that would authorize the Labor Department to enforce Section 105. Meanwhile, however, the Civil Service Reform Act gives exclusive authority to the Labor Department over democratic rights for Federal employee unionists. The following letter was submitted to Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao by AUD attorney Arthur Fox.
Dear Secretary Chao:
By letter dated April 5, several legal scholars and I submitted on behalf of AUD a rule making petition to close a loophole in the Department's regulations implementing the Civil Service Reform Act .... More specifically, we requested you promptly to require unions representing Federal employees to inform members about their democratic right within their unions, just as all other union operating in the private sector are required to do by Section 105 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act ....
While the petition can hardly be said to be controversial, nonetheless it seems to be languishing somewhere within the Department .... To date our rule making petition has neither been granted nor denied; rather, it hangs in limbo. Needless to say, while we hope you will grant the petition, we would at least appreciate your taking action on it, in one way or the other.
Sincerely,
Arthur Fox
for the Association for Union Democracy
For more on Section 105 and Federal Employees
Recent coverage of Federal Employees in Union Democracy Review:
National Association of Rural Letter Carriers: Sherryle Meeks has been publishing Rural Voice as an independent voice for union members. In the third issue she writes, "This will be what I hope is only the beginning of a movement to make the true voice of rural carriers heard and shared .... a place for editorials and commentary on issues and concerns relevant to our jobs and our union .... I support union membership but I also support union reform. If we do not change our union we will not benefit from our membership."
APWU: William Smith performed a great service for New York City postal clerks in 1999 when he ran successfully as an insurgent for president of the 9,000-member Metro Area local. By defeating the entrenched incumbents in the first contested election in 13 years, he created a new mood of democracy and militant unionism. Smith paid the price of the very democratic spirit his victory had stimulated. In April, he was defeated for president by Clarice Torrence, a shop steward, in a nine-way race.
The National Association of Letter Carriers has finally given in to demands that it comply with LMRDA Section 105 and inform its members of the democratic rights. The February issue of its Postal Record has printed the full text of the law's summary as ordered by a federal judge in a Machinists case.
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