WHEELING. The Wheeling Academy of Law and Science (WALS) Foundation, in partnership with the Ohio County Public Library, is playing host on August 29 to the nephew of one of Wheeling’s best-known sons: Walter Reuther, longtime president of the United Auto Workers Union.
Alan Reuther, son of Walter’s brother Roy, has written a new book about his father and uncles. Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights was published in April of this year by Michigan State University Press.
This 340-page 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.
Alan Reuther (alanreuther.com) 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.
Copies of Reuther’s book will be for sale for only $20, far below the retail price. Reuther will sign copies for any interested attendees. The free event will begin at 7:00 PM in the main room on the first floor of the First State Capitol Building at 1413 Eoff Street on Friday, August 29. Snacks and beverages will be served. The talk is a precursor to the annual Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium, which will take place at the same venue the next day on Saturday, August 30, beginning at 9:30 AM. See the WALS Foundation’s Facebook page for details or visit walswheeling.org.
The WALS Foundation is a non-profit corporation established in 2004 to promote educational programming and consulting in the areas of education, employment, energy, labor history and the environment; and, in doing so, to promote local economic opportunity, employment, and job creation in the city of Wheeling and state of West Virginia.
