Douglas Fraser

Douglas Andrew Fraser (December 18, 1916 – February 23, 2008) was an American union leader. He was president of the United Auto Workers from 1977 to 1983, and an adjunct professor of labor relations at Wayne State University for many years. He is best remembered for helping to save Chrysler from bankruptcy in 1979 by heavily lobbying Congress for a financial bailout.

Early life

Fraser was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1916. Fraser's father, Samuel, was an electrician and an active and vocal trade unionist."Fraser Goes into High Gear," Time, July 23, 1979. Samuel Fraser moved to Detroit, Michigan, when he was a young boy. In 1922, his mother—with Douglas and his sister and brother—sailed to New York CityDavid Runk, "Douglas Fraser, Former United Auto Workers President, Dies at 91," Associated Press, February 24, 2008. aboard the and were inspected at Ellis Island on April 23, 1923. They travelled to their new home in Detroit via train.

He was deeply influenced by the Great Depression. His father was out of work for extensive periods, and Fraser admitted the poverty and social disorder he witnessed changed his life.<ref...
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