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Title: UAW Vice
President’s Office: Irving
Bluestone Collection Type : Records Dates: 1959-1980 (Predominantly,
1965-1980)
Size : 59 linear feet, 59 storage boxes ID #: 993-uaw
OCLC: ©Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs |
Ø Subjects Ø Index [Large file] |
HEFA.01e.update
Irving Bluestone was born January 5, 1917 in New York City. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from City College of New York in 1937 and spent the following year pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Bern, Switzerland.
Mr. Bluestone began his career in the labor movement in 1942, joining UAW Local 511 while working as a production grinder for GM’s Hyatt Bearing Division in Harrison, New Jersey. He served as chairman of the local’s bargaining and education committees and editor of its newspaper until 1945, when he was appointed to the UAW Region 9A staff servicing locals.
In December, 1947 Walter Reuther brought him to Detroit to join the staff of the UAW’s largest department, General Motors, where he coordinated their arbitration machinery and did general field work. In 1955 Leonard Woodcock was elected vice president and made Mr. Bluestone his administrative assistant, with responsibility for aerospace negotiations and contract administration as well as GM negotiations.
In 1961 Mr. Bluestone became Walter Reuther’s administrative assistant and participated in all negotiations with the Big Three as well as AMC and many suppliers. Ten years later, shortly after Leonard Woodcock succeeded Walter Reuther as UAW president, Mr. Bluestone took over leadership of the General Motors Department. He was elected vice president in 1972, filling the executive board spot vacated by Leonard Woodcock.
During the 1970s Mr. Bluestone authored the union’s highly successful “mini strike” bargaining tactic and its innovative quality of work life programs. In 1977 he was selected UAW Michigan Community Action Council chairman.
In addition to his activities on behalf of the labor movement, Mr. Bluestone played a key role in many community, state, national and international organizations, working to advance national health security, protect and expand civil rights, improve education and school facilities, enlarge job opportunities and reverse unemployment.
Irving Bluestone retired from the UAW in June, 1980 and joined the faculty of Wayne State University as University Professor of Labor Studies.
The UAW Vice president’s Office: Irving Bluestone Collection consists of correspondence, minutes, reports, clippings, pamphlets and negotiations material related to Mr. Bluestone’s career in the UAW, especially the affairs of the General Motors Department, and to his involvement in a number of other organizations and activities.
Bolivar, Tennessee Project Labor-Management Relations
Chrysler Contract Negotiations Pensions & Benefits
Employment/Unemployment Productivity in the Auto Industry
Ford Contract Negotiations Quality of Work Life
General Motors Lordstown Plant Technology in the Auto Industry
General Motors Contract Negotiations UAW Community Action Program
General Motors Strike - 1970 UAW Region 1
General Motors Tarrytown Plant UAW Region 2
International Labor Movement UAW Region 9A
Bieber, Owen McDermott, Dennis
Colbath, William Pepper, Claude
Dillard, Ernest Reuther, Walter
Fraser, Douglas Sexton, Brendan
James, Frank Stepp, Marc
Marshall, William Weinberg, Nat
Maynard, Libby White, Bob
Mazey, Emil Woodcock, Leonard
Transferred
A few photographs, items of memorabilia, and audio tapes of the memorial service held for Walter and May Reuther in Detroit in 1970 have been placed in the Archives Audiovisual Collection, and a number of books, convention proceedings and serials received with the collection can be found in the Archives Library.
Irving Bluestone: Saturn Corporation Collection, 213
PLEASE NOTE: Folders are computer-arranged alphabetically in this finding aid, but may actually be dispersed throughout several boxes in the collection. Note carefully the box number for each folder heading.