Carl D. Biers
Revson Fellow 2001-2002
Executive Director
Association for Union Democracy
Carl Biers is the executive director of the Association for Union Democracy (AUD), a non-profit organization with a mission to promote a strong, vibrant labor movement by counseling union members in their democratic rights and by providing education and advice to support union members. A native of New York State, Mr. Biers received a B.A. from Columbia College and worked as an organizer in the National Health and Hospital Local 1199 and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in campaigns to organize immigrant workers before coming to AUD as Assistant Director in 1995. Since its founding in 1969, AUD had maintained a legal focus, counseling union members on their rights to free speech, fair elections, due process, and fair hiring, and providing referrals to attorneys. Mr. Biers has brought new initiative to the agency, combining legal education with practical organizing education to aid union reformers. For example, he created a workshop that combines education on candidates’ rights during union elections with techniques for effective campaigning, and others that examine the free speech rights of members while providing training in the effective writing and circulation of leaflets and newsletters, the building of rank-and-file caucuses, and in effective participation in union meetings. Over the past four years, while Mr. Biers has been director, AUD has played a strong role supporting the rights of insurgent reformers in several city unions including the 120,000-member AFSCME, District Council 37; the 60,000-member building services local 32B-32J, SEIU; the10,000-member New York City local of the Postal Workers Union; the 20,000-member Professional Staff Congress at CUNY; and most recently the 33,000-member Local 100 Transport Workers Union. During his Revson year, Mr. Biers studied writing and reporting, and U.S. labor history.
(The Revson Fellow’s biography that appears above was last updated in 2001. Revson Fellows may update their biographies on this site by sending email to: revson@columbia.edu)
My fellowship year provided me with the opportunity to test myself in new ways by engaging in academic studies and thinking more deeply about the issues with which we struggle on a daily basis. Taking the time to stretch myself intellectually has been incredibly rewarding, particularly within the context of the fellowship. I was honored to be a part of this cohort, all of the fellows were wonderfully supportive and interesting people and it was a gift to meet and work with each of them, as well as the Revson staff. It has been a wonderful year and I feel reinvigorated about my work as well as looking forward to continuing academic studies.
