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A Successful "Experiment" in Union Democracy By Msgr. George G. Higgins The Yardstick December 18, 2000  I recently retired for reasons of health from the Public Review Board of the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO. I served as a board member from its inception in 1957 and as chairman from 1968 until my retirement. Allow me to reminisce a bit about that highly valued experience.  The UAW, in establishing the Public Review Board, broke radically new ground in the nongovernmental sector of our society by voluntarily establishing an independent seven-member board to act as a watchdog over the union's ethical practices and to give the union's members a further avenue of appeal from the decisions made by local unions and other subordinate bodies as well as by the International Executive Board.  In the beginning, some members of the union and some segments of the press took a jaundiced view of this totally unprecedented experiment in union democracy. Some thought that the newly established Public Review Board would be a "patsy" for the International Union or would be manipulated by the union's top officers for public relations purposes. Others feared, to the contrary, that the board would encroach upon the union's legitimate autonomy and would be tempted to overrule the union on collective bargaining issues having nothing to do with ethical practices.  But I can testify with full confidence that all of these fears have proved completely unfounded. Throughout all the years I served on the board we enjoyed the complete cooperation of the International Union in the processing of cases before the board. We never were refused access to any information in the custody of the International Union that we thought relevant to the resolution of an issue before the board. Similarly, when we requested that the International reopen a record for the purpose of throwing new light on a case we felt had been incompletely litigated, the union never refused to do so.  Never at any time since the board's inception has the International's administration attempted to pack the membership of the board with people it felt could be expected to act in a manner favorable to the union's objectives. We always enjoyed complete freedom to propose candidates to the International to fill vacancies which occurred on the board. That is still true.  In summary, it is completely fair and accurate to say that the fears expressed in 1957 when the board was established have not come to pass. I consider it a great privilege to have served on the board for so many years. I regret, of course, that this historic and totally unique experiment in union democracy has not found favor with other unions or with comparable voluntary organizations -- including religious organizations -- in our pluralistic society. They have much to learn from the UAW's tried and tested experience in guaranteeing its own integrity as an organization and in providing due process to its members.  Let me conclude with a word of appreciation and gratitude for the honor of having served with so many distinguished public servants who were willing to give so much of their valuable time to the board's work. It speaks highly of the board that the members, all of whom are extremely busy people, seldom if ever missed a meeting except for reasons of health or other causes beyond their control.   Papal Social Encyclicals   Other Catholic Social Teachings General Articles of Interest  Catholic Worker Connection Msgr. George Higgins  Home Page E-Mail: Fr. Sinclair Oubre