Plant shutdowns

Marc Stepp Papers

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:47:49 -0500

Stepp worked for nineteen years at the Chrysler Highland Park plant and advanced through positions of union leadership from shop committeeman, chief steward and vice president of Local 490 to the Chrysler-UAW National Negotiating Committee. In 1967 he was appointed international representative with Region 1B, was elevated to assistant regional director in 1973 and in 1974 was elected International Vice President, assuming Nelson Jack Edwards' spot on the union's International Executive Board.

He was active in numerous community and civil rights organizations and in Democratic Party politics, running unsuccessfully for a seat on the all-white Detroit Common Council in 1965. Marc Stepp retired from the UAW in 1988.

The Marc Stepp Collection consists primarily of his speeches as UAW International Vice President. Subjects include: affirmative action; black Shriners; impact of economic recession on black workers; impact of Reagan administration policies on black workers; plant closings; South Africa; U.S. industrial policy

UAW Chrysler Department Records

drice — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:28:29 -0500

The UAW Chrysler Department was formed in the year following the tumultuous sit-down strikes of 1937. Responsible of the department included planning, developing, negotiating, and administering collective bargaining agreements for Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada.

The records of the department reflect its administration and activities and largely include the files of Arthur Hughes, an administrative assitant and assistant director in the department from 1940-1978.

UAW Local 1565 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:25:58 -0500

Subjects include: Chase Brass and Copper Co., Waterbury, Connecticut; metalworkers; IUMMSW Local 565; Progressive Metalworkers’ Council, IUMSWA; plant closings in the brass industry; 1946, 1956, 1975-76 strikes

UAW Local 417 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:47:25 -0500

Subjects include: auto parts plants in Detroit's northern suburbs; plant closings; collective bargaining; union organizing; grievances; discrimination

UAW President's Office: Douglas Fraser Records

drice — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:31:47 -0400

Douglas A. Fraser was elected UAW President in 1977 following the retirement of Leonard Woodcock. As UAW President Fraser presided over the emergence of Japanese auto imports into the previously US dominated auto industry, growing concerns over air quality, worker safety issues, and job re-training. In 1981 Fraser successfully reunited the UAW with the AFL-CIO after a 13 year absence. Fraser was also instrumental in assisting Chrysler Motor Company’s federal bailout loan to avoid the company’s bankruptcy and the loss of thousands of auto workers’ jobs in 1979. In recognition of his commitment to the success of both US auto companies and workers, in 1980 Fraser was the first union member to be elected to the Chrysler Board of Directors. Fraser retired from the UAW in 1983, succeeded by Owen Bieber, to begin his second career as Professor of Labor Studies at Wayne State University. Douglas Fraser died on February 23, 2008.

The collection is divided into two parts. Part 1 includes subjects such as Chrysler Corporation; UAW Regions 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D; Canadian autoworkers; Detroit economic development; foreign automobile industry; Democratic Party politics; plant closings; air pollution; contract negotiations; strikes; SUB; Progressive Alliance; Walter Reuther; and early retirement.

Part 2 represents subject files and International Executive Board files not represented in Office of the President Part 1. The subject files provide information regarding the UAW’s interaction with Chrysler Motor Coporation during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and detailed information related to the Chrysler Federal Loan Bailout. The International Executive Board Files provide insight into the interaction between the UAW Office of the President and the International Executive Board of the union.

UAW Public Relations Department Photographs and Sound and Video Recordings

mwallace — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 14:01:25 -0400

Since the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) was established as an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in August 1935, the union has maintained an office to deal with public relations. At that time, a "Committee on Publication" was formed, which became the "Publication Committee" in April 1936. The Committee subsequently became the "Publicity Department" in August 1936, when the UAW became an independent union affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). This became the UAW's Public Relations Department some years later. The primary purpose of the original Committees and Department was the production of the union's national newspaper, the United Automobile Worker, which became Solidarity in 1957. Over the years, as the UAW grew into a large, powerful union, the P.R. department played an increasingly important role in writing speeches and producing various publications. It also generated large numbers of photographic images, created television advertisements, and issued press releases, delivering the union’s official stance on nearly all issues. In recent years, the P.R. Department has also been responsible for maintaining the union’s social media presence. The collection consists of Audio-Visual material, including photographic prints and contact sheets, videotapes, and audio recordings.

UAW Region 1 Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:20:38 -0500

Subjects include: Eastside Detroit plants; AFL-CIO; civil rights; Michigan politics; Community Action Program; Democratic Party politics; plant closings; benefits; Black Lake; retirees; organizing; strikes

UAW Region 1E Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:33:55 -0500

Subjects include: UAW organization in southeastern Michigan; automobile industry; strikes; unemployment; plant shutdowns; health insurance; retirees; organizing; political activity; UAW Women's Department; Willow Run Bomber Plant

UAW Region 2A Records

drice — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:36:10 -0500

Subjects include: Allis-Chalmers strike (1955-57); automobile industry and workers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and W. Virginia; GM Ternstedt Div. strikes (1955, 1958); plant shutdowns; health and safety issues; unemployment; PACs; African-American autoworkers; Communism

Book Announcement: Punching Out

jruss — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:04:56 -0500

Paul Clemens, Assistant to the Dean of Wayne State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has just published a book, Punching Out: One Year in a Closing Auto Plant. The book focuses on the Budd Company, which at different times in its 94-year history built steel train cars read more »