Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights

by Alan Reuther

Overview

This biography of Roy Reuther examines his tumultuous life, including the triumphs and tragedies in the labor and civil rights movements. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers activists may face as they confront entrenched societal powers. As the brother of famed labor leader Walter Reuther, Roy was a key figure in the historic Flint sit-down strike that gave birth to the United Auto Workers (UAW). He became the political director of the UAW and was deeply involved in struggles to pass civil rights legislation. This book explores his passion for increasing voter participation and his vow to help downtrodden farmworkers. 

Many of the injustices that Reuther fought continue to plague America today. This book provides important context for the current efforts of workers to organize, for the Black Lives Matter movement, and for efforts to reform the filibuster rule and stop voter suppression. It shows how dedicated individuals can overcome enormous odds to win great victories for social justice and emphasizes the potential connections between the labor and civil rights movements, offering hope for a more just future.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611865318
Publisher:	Michigan State University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2025
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	340
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Alan Reuther is the son of Roy Reuther and the nephew of famed labor leader Walter Reuther. He received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. Following in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps, the author spent his career working for the United Auto Workers (UAW). In 1977 he began as a lawyer in the union’s legal department, litigating in federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1982 he transferred to the UAW’s Washington office to work on legislative matters. He became legislative director in 1991 and supervised the union’s activities lobbying Congress and the executive branch on health care, pensions, worker rights, and other issues.

Table of Contents

Contents
Preface
Prologue
Part I. Formative Years
1. Crucible
2. Disciple
Part II. Initial Skirmishes
3. Forging a New Path
4. The Long Arm of GM
5. Fania
Part III. The Flint Sit-Down Strike
6. Sit-Down
7. Pitched Battles
8. Chevy 4
9. Emergency Brigade
10. Victory
Part IV. Battling Employers and Union Rivals
11. Continuing Battles
12. Fighting on Two Fronts
13. Donnybrook in Milwaukee
14. Defeat and Danger
15. Tool and Die Strike
Part V. Marriage, Fatherhood And Victory
16. A New Beginning
17. The Winding Path Forward
18. Battle on the Boardwalk
19. Fatherhood and Triumph
Part VI. The Shootings
20. Shotgun Blasts
21. Changed Lives
Part VII. Political Action
22. Building Political Power
23. Changing Tides
24. Fighting LBJ
25. A New Home
26. The Campaign
Part VIII. Common Cause
27. Bright Vision
28. Dark Cloud
29. Getting Out the Vote (GOTV)
30. Race Traitor
31. Marching for Freedom
Part IX. Civil and Voting Rights
32. Transition
33. Showdown
34. Controversy and Landslide
35. Three Martyrs
Part X. Denouement
36. Changing Times
37. Fear and Hatred
38. Schisms
39. Battling Texas Rangers
40. Things Fall Apart
Epilogue
Author’s Note and Acknowledgments
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

Roy Reuther and the UAW is a significant contribution to labor history and biography. It broadens our understanding of the Reuther family's legacy and underscores the interconnectedness of labor, civil rights, and democratic participation. Most important, it affirms the possibility of meaningful change even in the midst of profound opposition. Roy Reuther’s life reminds us that while the struggle for justice is arduous and comes at a high personal cost, it remains essential—and at times, transformative.” —Mark Strolle, Michigan State University, School of Human Resources and Labor Relations for ILR Review

“Roy Reuther and the UAW is the gripping story of Roy Reuther, one of the famed Reuther brothers, who played a huge and historic role in building America’s labor movement and lifting millions of workers, creating the middle class. This book, written by Roy Reuther’s son, Alan, fills an important gap by detailing the life and achievements of Roy, the least known of the Reuther brothers. Walter Reuther, the UAW’s long-time president, was more famous, while Roy played a big but largely unsung role in some of labor’s proudest episodes: the Flint sit-down strike and getting unions to back throw their weight behind the civil rights movement as well as Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.”-Steven Greenhouse, author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor


“Roy Reuther and the UAW is the gripping story of Roy Reuther, one of the famed Reuther brothers, who played a huge and historic role in building America’s labor movement and lifting millions of workers, creating the middle class. This book, written by Roy Reuther’s son, Alan, fills an important gap by detailing the life and achievements of Roy, the least known of the Reuther brothers. Walter Reuther, the UAW’s long-time president, was more famous, while Roy played a big but largely unsung role in some of labor’s proudest episodes: the Flint sit-down strike and getting unions to back throw their weight behind the civil rights movement as well as Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.”-Steven Greenhouse, author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor

From the Publisher