_{HOME >Exhibits > Leonard Woodcock}

Shortly after gaining the UAW presidency in 1970, Woodcock led UAW members in a historic strike against General Motors. The UAW had not conducted a strike against GM since 1946, and long-simmering resentments between the company and the union soon became headline news. At the top of the list were the increasing number of UAW local union demands for improvements in health, safety and other local working conditions.

After 67 days, GM settled with the UAW and the results were historic. Woodcock’s bargaining skills led to a landmark contract that included open-ended cost of living allowances for GM workers and a “30 and out” pension plan that allowed workers to retire after 30 years of service regardless of their physical age. Most important, the contract allowed for greater autonomy for labor actions by union locals. And, Woodcock had earned the respect of both UAW members and GM executives.

After making his mark during the GM Strike of 1970, Woodcock settled into the business of being UAW president. Although he followed Reuther’s general philosophy that the mission of the labor movement should strive for social justice and human rights as well as economic justice for all working Americans, Woodcock was a much different leader than his famous predecessor. Tall, lanky and wearing black eyeglasses, many observers thought he looked like a corporate executive or a university professor. Where Reuther relied upon his outstanding intuition as much as his excellent mind, Woodcock was considered to be an intellectual. To some he appeared to be cold and aloof, but those who worked closely with Woodcock found him to be a warm individual, who could, when necessary, demonstrate a fierce temper. Above all, Woodcock earned a reputation for total honesty and impeccable fairness.

Woodcock with Cesar Chavez, President of the United Farm Workers, 1970s	Woodcock with English Autoworkers, 1974	Woodcock visiting UAW member, GM assembly plant, Lordstown, Ohio. Fall 1970
Retiring UAW president Leonard Woodcock passing the gavel to his successor Douglas Fraser.	Retiring from the UAW During his time as UAW president, Woodcock steered the union through contract negotiations during an era of oil embargos, competition from foreign carmakers, and severe inflation and recession. Despite the volatile economic conditions the UAW faced in the 1970s, its rank and file membership remained largely intact and prosperous. At the 1977 UAW Convention, having reached the mandatory retirement of 65, Woodcock passed the gavel to the next president, Doug Fraser, and officially retired from the union. Although his career as UAW president was over, Woodcock was about to begin a second, historic career as an American statesman.