Labor
Douglas Fraser
1916–2008 · president of the United Auto Workers (1977–1983)
Scottish-born Detroit autoworker who led the UAW from 1977 to 1983, helped save Chrysler in 1979 and became the first union leader on a major US corporate board.
- Born
Glasgow, Scotland- Died
Southfield, Michigan
aged 91- Birth name
- Douglas Andrew Fraser
- Detroit years
- 1923–2008
- Field
- Labor
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Douglas Fraser came to Detroit from Glasgow as a small boy, following his father, and grew up in the city's working-class neighborhoods. He found work as a metal finisher at a Chrysler DeSoto plant, joined the union in 1936, was fired twice for organizing and took part in the Chrysler sit-down strikes. Elected president of UAW Local 227 in 1943, he served in the army during the war and impressed Walter Reuther during the 104-day Chrysler strike of 1950, becoming Reuther's aide and later head of the union's Chrysler department. As UAW president from 1977, he faced Chrysler's near-collapse in 1979: he lobbied Congress for the federal loan guarantees that saved the company and persuaded members to accept deep concessions. In return Chrysler put him on its board of directors from 1980 to 1984, a first for an American union leader. For many years he also taught labor relations at Wayne State University, which named its Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues after him. He died in Southfield in 2008.
Highlights
- UAW president, 1977–1983
- Lobbied for the 1979 federal loan guarantees that saved Chrysler
- First union leader on a major US company board (Chrysler, 1980–1984)
- Taught labor relations at Wayne State University for many years
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1977–1983
Solidarity House (UAW headquarters)
UAW headquarters on East Jefferson, his base as union president.