UAW President's Office: Leonard Woodcock Records

Accession Number: 
LR000262
Extent: 
125.5 linear feet (245 MB, 3 SB)

Leonard Woodcock was named President of the UAW in May 1970, following the death of Walter P. Reuther. He was elected to a full term in April, 1972, and again in 1974. In 1970 as UAW President Woodcock led a 67 day strike against General Motors which resulted in securing the “30 and out” retirement program and restoring full cost of living benefits. In the 1973 negotiations Woodcock secured further benefits for auto workers including dental insurance, restrictions on overtime, improved COLA and SUB benefits, and stronger health and safety benefits. In the 1976 negotiations the union won hearing aid and vision care as well as reduced overtime. Leonard retired from the UAW in 1977 and was succeeded by Douglas A. Fraser as union president. Following his retirement from the UAW, Woodcock was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to the position of Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in the People’s Republic of China. He then became the first U.S. ambassador to the country since World War II. In 1980 Woodcock returned from China to accept a position in the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan.

Part 1 covers subjects such as UAW GM Dept.; IMF; NAACP; UAW locals and regions; civil rights; health care; National Commission on Productivity; and Alliance for Labor Action.

Part 2 represents subject files and International Executive Board files not represented in Office of the President Part I. The subject files provide information regarding negotiations and contract proposals with various companies. The International Executive Board Files demonstrate the interaction between the Office of the President and International Executive Board of the union.

Date: 
1962-1977
Attachment(click to download)
LR000262.pdfLR000262_1_guide.pdf537.28 KB
LR000262_2.pdfLR000262_2_guide.pdf135.38 KB