Former UAW President Doug Fraser Dies at 91

by Mike Hall, Feb 25, 2008

Douglas Fraser, who went to work in a Detroit auto plant in 1934 and rose through the ranks of the UAW to lead the union from 1977 to 1983, died Sunday in Southfield, Mich. He was 91 years old.

Says UAW President Ron Gettelfinger:

Doug was a friend, a mentor and a counselor to so many within the UAW and the larger labor movement. His integrity and his enduring commitment to protecting the rights of workers will continue to inspire us. He never forgot that we were working for our active and retired members.

An Associated Press obituary notes that UAW members held Fraser in high regard.

With his mischievous smile and gregarious, easygoing manner, Fraser was popular with the union’s rank-and-file, who appreciated his candor and accessibility. Everyone called him Doug.

Fraser is probably best known for his help engineering the historic $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees in 1979 that kept Chrysler Corp. out of bankruptcy and UAW members working. He later served on the company’s board of directors. Former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard (D) told the AP:

At the time, he was probably the most respected labor leader in America and he had great political charm, as well as substantive commitment. He was really key in everything that happened to save Chrysler.

Prior to serving as UAW president, Fraser held several top positions in the union and was instrumental in winning comprehensive health care benefits and better working conditions for UAW members. A post on the union’s website describes Fraser’s rise through the UAW.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1916, Fraser moved to Detroit with his family when he was six years old. He went to work at the Chrysler DeSoto plant and soon joined the UAW. He was elected president of Local 227 in 1944. His astute negotiating and leadership skills led Walter Reuther to appoint Fraser his administrative assistant in 1950. Fraser served as co-director of UAW Region 1A and in 1962 became director of the union’s Chrysler Department. He was elected vice president in 1970.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says Fraser was a:

kind and caring warrior for economic and social justice for all working families and a champion of the rights of all workers to join unions and bargain collectively. Long after he retired as president of the auto workers, he continued to agitate on issues ranging from health care to fair trade, secure pensions and the minimum wage.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) told the Detroit Free Press:

He worked to better the lives of all Americans on matters of great importance—health, working conditions, jobs, education and quality of life.

After six years at the helm of the UAW, he retired and became a professor of labor studies at Wayne State University. In November 1997, the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs at Wayne State University created the Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues.

He is survived by his wife, Winnie, two daughters from a first marriage and two daughters from his wife’s first marriage.

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