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'''Walter Reuther''' (1907 - 1970) was an [[American labor unions|American labor union]] leader, who made the United Automobile Workers (the '''[[UAW]]''') a major force for liberalism and high wages not only in the auto industry but also in the [[Democratic Party]] in the mid 20th century. At first a [[fellow traveller]] who worked closely with the Communists in the mid 1930s, he became a leading liberal and supporter of the [[New Deal coalition]]. In the late 1940s became a leading anti-Communist; he supported an anti-Communist foreign policy including support for the Cold War, the Korean War and the Vietnam war. [[Image:Reuther45.jpg|thumb|285px|Walter Reuther ''Time'' Dec 3. 1945]]

'''Walter Reuther''' (1907 - 1970) was an [[American labor unions|American labor union]] leader, who made the United Automobile Workers (the '''[[UAW]]''') a major force for liberalism and high wages not only in the auto industry but also in the [[Democratic Party]] in the mid 20th century. At first a [[fellow traveller]] who worked closely with the Communists in the mid 1930s, he became a leading liberal and supporter of the [[New Deal coalition]]. In the late 1940s became a leading anti-Communist; he supported an anti-Communist foreign policy including support for the Cold War, the Korean War and the Vietnam war. [[Image:Reuther45.jpg|thumb|285px|Walter Reuther ''Time'' Dec 3. 1945]]

==Early career==

==Early career==

Reuther was born in [[Wheeling, West Virginia]], the son of a socialist brewery worker who had immigrated from Germany.  In the fall of 1930, as a student at Detroit City College(which is now Wayne State University), he helped to organize the DCC Social Problems Club which was an affiliate to the [[League for Industrial Democracy]].<ref name=Devinatz> Victor G. Devinatz, "Reassessing the Historical UAW: Walter Reuther's Affiliation with the Communist Party and Something of its Meaning - a Document of Party Involvement, 1939." ''Labour'' 2002 (49): 223-245. Issn: 0700-3862 Fulltext: in  History Cooperative  Reuther later insisted he was never a member.</ref>

Reuther was born in [[Wheeling, West Virginia]], the son of a socialist brewery worker who had immigrated from Germany.  In the fall of 1930, as a student at Detroit City College(which is now Wayne State University), he helped to organize the DCC Social Problems Club which was an affiliate to the [[League for Industrial Democracy]].<ref name=Devinatz>Victor G. Devinatz, "Reassessing the Historical UAW: Walter Reuther's Affiliation with the Communist Party and Something of its Meaning - a Document of Party Involvement, 1939." ''Labour'' 2002 (49): 223-245. Issn: 0700-3862 Fulltext: in  History Cooperative  Reuther later insisted he was never a member.</ref>

In his entire career he was close to his brothers and co-workers Victor Reuther and Roy Reuther. Reuther joined the Ford Motor Company but was laid off as the [[Great Depression]] worsened. He and his brothers went to Europe and then worked 1933-35 in an auto plant at Gorky in the [[Soviet Union]]. While he collaborated very closely with the Communists, Reuther called himself a Socialist party member; historians believe he was probably an active  Communist party member in 1935-36; some evidence suggests he was a Communist party member as late as 1939.<ref name=Devinatz /> He later claimed that he disapproved of the repressive Stalinist regime, but his reports from Russia and his lectures after returning home were enthusiastically supportive. At the end of the trip he wrote, "the atmosphere of freedom and security, shop meetings with their proletarian industrial democracy; all these things make an inspiring contrast to what we know as Ford wage slaves in Detroit. What we have experienced here has reeducated us along new and more practical lines."<ref>Lichtenstein, ''Most Dangerous Man'' p 44</ref> Unhappy with the lack of political freedom in the country, Reuther returned to the United States where he found employment at General Motors and became an active member of the United Automobile Workers (UAW).

In his entire career he was close to his brothers and co-workers Victor Reuther and Roy Reuther. Reuther joined the Ford Motor Company but was laid off as the [[Great Depression]] worsened. He and his brothers went to Europe and then worked 1933-35 in an auto plant at Gorky in the [[Soviet Union]]. While he collaborated very closely with the Communists, Reuther called himself a Socialist party member; historians believe he was probably an active  Communist party member in 1935-36; some evidence suggests he was a Communist party member as late as 1939.<ref name=Devinatz /> He later claimed that he disapproved of the repressive Stalinist regime, but his reports from Russia and his lectures after returning home were enthusiastically supportive. At the end of the trip he wrote, "the atmosphere of freedom and security, shop meetings with their proletarian industrial democracy; all these things make an inspiring contrast to what we know as Ford wage slaves in Detroit. What we have experienced here has reeducated us along new and more practical lines."<ref>Lichtenstein, ''Most Dangerous Man'' p 44</ref> Unhappy with the lack of political freedom in the country, Reuther returned to the United States where he found employment at General Motors and became an active member of the United Automobile Workers (UAW).

Reuther remained active in the Socialist Party and in 1937 failed in his attempt to be elected to the Detroit City Council. However, impressed by the efforts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to tackle inequality, he eventually joined the Democratic Party.  

Reuther remained active in the Socialist Party and in 1937 failed in his attempt to be elected to the Detroit City Council. However, impressed by the efforts by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to tackle inequality, he eventually joined the Democratic Party.  

==Union Career==

==Union career==

In 1936 he became president of tiny local 174 (with 100 members), which on paper had responsibility for 100,000 auto workers on the west side of [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. Reuther led several strikes and in 1937 and 1940 was hospitalized after being badly beaten by strike-breakers. He also survived two assassination attempts during this period; one attack on April 20th, 1948 left his right hand permanently crippled.

In 1936 he became president of tiny local 174 (with 100 members), which on paper had responsibility for 100,000 auto workers on the west side of [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. Reuther led several strikes and in 1937 and 1940 was hospitalized after being badly beaten by strike-breakers. He also survived two assassination attempts during this period; one attack on April 20, 1948 left his right hand permanently crippled.

Reuther had a highly publicized, almost theatrical confrontation with Ford security forces on May 26, 1937, known in UAW folklore as "The Battle of the Overpass." By this time, thanks to the sit-down strikes, UAW membership had exploded and Local 174 was a power inside the UAW. He worked with the left-wing Unity Caucus (which included the powerful Communist groups) to defeat the conservative president Homer Martin. As a senior organizer, Reuther helped win major strikes for union recognition against General Motors in 1940 and Ford in 1941.

Reuther had a highly publicized, almost theatrical confrontation with Ford security forces on May 26, 1937, known in UAW folklore as "The Battle of the Overpass." By this time, thanks to the sit-down strikes, UAW membership had exploded and Local 174 was a power inside the UAW. He worked with the left-wing Unity Caucus (which included the powerful Communist groups) to defeat the conservative president Homer Martin. As a senior organizer, Reuther helped win major strikes for union recognition against General Motors in 1940 and Ford in 1941.

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==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/viewFile/5257/6127 Reassessing the Historical UAW: Walter Reuther's Affiliation with the Communist Party and Something of its Meaning - a Document of Party Involvement, 1939], by Victor G. Devinatz - PDF

* [http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/viewFile/5257/6127 Reassessing the Historical UAW: Walter Reuther's Affiliation with the Communist Party and Something of its Meaning - a Document of Party Involvement, 1939], by Victor G. Devinatz - PDF