Hundreds remember former UAW president (corrected)

[Omaha Steve]

I accidentally hit post.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080412/BUSINESS06/304120008/1019/BUSINESS

BY BRENT SNAVELY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • April 12, 2008

Former UAW President Douglas Fraser was remembered Saturday, not just as a fighter for workers, but also as a towering figure of integrity, charisma, humor -- and as a global advocate for social justice.

Over a career spanning more than five decades of labor leadership, Fraser climbed to global recognition.

He is credited for helping to win pensions for UAW workers in the 1950s, was instrumental in convincing Congress to approve a federal bailout of Chrysler when it was on the brink of bankruptcy and leading contract negotiations in 1982 when Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. were facing profound financial difficulties.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm called Fraser "a leader to emulate," and said that while she didn't know him well, she knows that "there are tens of thousands of UAW members across the country that also never knew him personally but ... are able to enjoy a decent quality of life because of Doug Fraser."

Several hundred of Fraser's family, friends and colleagues attended Saturday's event at Wayne State University's Community Arts Auditorium. The event was developed as a memorial service on behalf of Fraser's family by the UAW and the university, where he taught as a professor for 25 years.

Former UAW President Owen Bieber said Fraser fought for civil rights and global justice by speaking out about apartheid in South Africa, as well as social injustice in South America and labor unrest in Poland.

FULL story at link.