It is essential that the American Labor Movement hold fast to values of solidarity and individual democratic rights because one is not possible (particularly in the context of organized labor) without the other. The trade union movement’s greatest achievement is the promise of extending the values of democracy and solidarity to the economic sphere, wherein workers have a greater measure of autonomy over their shopfloors, their companies, etc. and thus, their lives. We at AUD have been stalwart advocates of these rights for over half a century and, with your help, will continue to provide guidance and counsel to those union members who require it. In the words of AUD founder Herman Benson “In advocating union democracy AUD bases itself upon the authentic traditions of labor unionism; for the labor movement derives its strength from democracy; it organizes the power of the people to offset the power of accumulated wealth, to win security, decent living standards, and dignity for wage and salary earners.”
To serve this important function for the labor movement, AUD needs your help. We’ve been involved this year with advising many unionists seeking to exercise their democratic rights:
-AUD recently filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a Colorado Court of Appeals case called Security Officers Association v. Pariscoff on behalf of anti-SLAPP litigation. We hope that our arguments will hold that union member free speech is protected by Colorado’s anti-SLAPP law.
-AUD has supported unionists who won statewide leadership elections in their union as they transition to leadership.
-AUD has supported unionists in New York, California, and Ohio dealing with issues of retaliation and removal from steward and committee positions.
-AUD has helped unionists navigate trusteeships in Texas, New York, and Maryland.
-AUD has advised a unionist who alleges an unfair hiring hall, and physical and verbal intimidation by his union while the member seeks recourse with the Department of Labor and NLRB.
-AUD has helped support multiple established reform caucuses as they find their footing as well as provided advice to multiple groups as they take the first steps to build reform organizations within their unions.
-AUD has continued to put out new resources and host union democracy trainings as well as mentor new lawyers interested in practicing union democracy law.
Recently, AUD participated in the 2026 Labor Notes Conference where we hosted a workshop on your free speech rights within your union and a general Know Your Rights Workshop under the LMRDA. Furthermore, AUD hosted a union democracy lawyer meetup where we met new faces, strengthened relationships and discussed what it’s like to practice union democracy law. Also, we are very excited to announce that we have a legal intern this summer to help us out as we continue to revitalize the AUD. Karena Landler joined us this June to conduct legal research for ongoing union democracy cases and to create a library of union democracy educational materials.
To continue to sustain these projects, an office, a bookstore and library of union democracy literature, a website, and a staff that can field requests for help like those above, we ask that you contribute to our Association for Union Democracy. We are always grateful for the help you give and honored to be joined in the cause by contributors like yourself. Thank you!
