From Reuther to Fain: Shaping the Past and Future of Workers’ Rights

As we approach Labor Day, it’s fitting to reflect on two pivotal figures in the history of labor: Walter Reuther and Shawn Fain. I first read about Reuther a couple of decades ago as I was embarking on my career in labor law. He was a visionary leader of the UAW who sought to protect the rights of workers throughout industries, not just the auto industry.

Fain is the current UAW president who has helped reinvigorate the labor movement nationally after years of stagnation and a drop in membership. Though separated by decades, both Reuther and Fain have left indelible marks on the labor movement, shaping the landscape of workers’ rights in America.

Reuther was UAW president from 1946 to 1970. His crowning achievement was negotiating the “Treaty of Detroit” in 1950, which set the standard for middle-class prosperity in post-war America. The groundbreaking agreement with General Motors provided workers with cost-of-living adjustments, guaranteed annual wage increases, and company-funded pensions.

Reuther’s vision extended beyond the factory floor. He was a vocal advocate for civil rights, standing alongside Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington in 1963. His famous quote, “There’s a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box,” emphasized the importance of political engagement in securing workers’ rights.

Fast forward to today, and we see Mr. Fain, elected UAW president in 2023, carrying the torch. Fain faces different challenges in a rapidly changing auto industry and labor movement, but his spirit echoes Reuther’s. He’s pushing for job security in the face of electric vehicle transitions and fighting against the two-tier wage system that divides workers in many workplaces.

Fain’s approach, while rooted in Reuther’s legacy, is adapted for the 21st century. He’s leveraging social media and grassroots organizing to mobilize members and gain public support. His “Stand Up Strike” strategy, targeting specific plants rather than shutting down entire companies, shows a nuanced understanding of modern labor tactics.

Both leaders share a commitment to worker solidarity and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Reuther famously stood up to auto industry giants, even surviving assassination attempts. Fain, in a similar vein, has reinvigorated the union’s strike fund and isn’t afraid to flex the UAW’s muscle, as evidenced by recent contract negotiations.

Reuther’s era saw the UAW grow into one of the most powerful unions in America, setting standards for wages and benefits that lifted millions into the middle class, not just from the auto industry, but throughout industrial jobs in the whole U.S. Fain now faces the challenge of maintaining and expanding those gains in an era of globalization, automation, and shifting consumer preferences.

One key difference in their approaches lies in their relationship with management. Reuther, while confrontational when necessary, also developed cooperative relationships with auto executives. Fain, on the other hand, has taken a more adversarial stance, arguing that decades of concessions have eroded worker power.

This Labor Day, as we celebrate the end of summer with one last cookout with friends, we should remember Reuther’s legacy of transforming the middle class and applaud Fain’s efforts to preserve and expand those gains in the 21st century. Their contributions remind us that the fight for workers’ rights is ongoing, requiring both reverence for the past and vision for the future.