The Tradition of Reutherism

Brendan Sexton, who recently retired from his office as Educational Director of the United Automobile Workers Union, is a veteran trade unionist who participated as an organizer in the formation of the CIO. For many years he worked closely with the Reuther leadership of the UAW. In the interview with him below, the questioners are two members of the Dissent board, Emanuel Geltman and Irving Howe.

Howe: Our topic is the rise of “Reutherism” in the American trade union movement. And we are especially interested, Brendan, in asking you some questions because you spent a good part of your life in this experience. Some of the early UAW leaders were Socialists or other kinds of radicals. Not all, ...