"Doug was a fierce advocate for workers who certainly would strongly challenge corporations whenever he thought that was appropriate. But Doug also was a strong advocate for cooperative win-win efforts between business and labor, which was and is a UAW tradition. That's what prompted Doug to be the Labor Co-Founder of our statewide business-labor coalition.

"He would tell the Board that they all had a common interest in having State policies to promote business success AND good wages and benefits for workers.

"In my last conversation with Doug two months ago, he emphasized that business and labor still needed a strong Certificate of Need program to avoid needless and costly spending on duplicative health facilities and technology. "

Written Statement from Irvin D. Reid, President of Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich.:

Today we join thousands across the state of Michigan and the nation to mourn the loss of former United Auto Workers President Doug Fraser, a legend in labor circles and a strong supporter and friend of Wayne State University. Mr. Fraser died on Saturday at age 91.

Mr. Fraser was born in Scotland but his family moved to Detroit in 1922. He began his career at 18 in a Dearborn machine shop and was promptly fired for union organizing. Two years later he was hired as a metal finisher at Chrysler's DeSoto assembly plant in Detroit and the following year he began his career with the United Auto Workers. Within six years Mr. Fraser began the first of three terms as Local 227 president. His skills as a negotiator were obvious during a 104-day strike against Chrysler, and he caught the attention of then-UAW President Walter Reuther, who asked Mr. Fraser to become his administrative assistant.

He steadily moved up the ranks at the UAW and was known as a man of integrity and a tough opponent at the bargaining table. Mr. Fraser was a passionate union leader and served as president of the UAW from 1977 to 1983, a time during which he led national contract negotiations that resulted in greatly improved benefits for workers.
When the Chrysler Corporation was near bankruptcy (1979-1981), Mr. Fraser convinced UAW members to accept contract concessions that are credited with helping keep the company afloat.

When he retired from the UAW, Wayne State University was fortunate to have Mr. Fraser join our faculty as a professor of labor studies, an affiliation he maintained for more than a quarter of a century. He could frequently be found working in his Reuther Library office, not far from the library's Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues, which was created in 1997 with gifts from the UAW, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and other organizations and admirers.

Mr. Fraser devoted his life to improving the workplace by ensuring workers receive fair pay, enjoy job security and are in a safe environment. He believed everyone must be treated with dignity and respect at work, and his example is one we all can follow.
The University will be working closely with Doug's wife of forty years, Winifred, also a member of our Wayne State University family, and representatives of the UAW in planning a memorial service here on the Wayne State campus. We have lost a great friend and visionary - his leadership will be sorely missed.

Written Statement from the Canadian Autoworkers:
The CAW is mourning the passing of former United Auto Workers President Doug Fraser, a committed trade unionist and influential labour leader. He died in hospital on February 23, 2008 at 91 years of age.

Fraser led the UAW from 1977 to 1983, through two difficult rounds of Big Three bargaining and was credited with obtaining $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for Chrysler, which saved the automaker from bankruptcy.

"Doug was very concerned about the retirees losing their health care benefits and the thousands of members who would lose their jobs if Chrysler went bankrupt," said CAW President Buzz Hargrove.

"He was a real rank-and-file trade union leader," said Hargrove, who called Fraser a personal friend and said that he will be missed.

CAW Secretary-Treasurer Jim O'Neil was appointed to UAW staff in 1976 by Doug Fraser and worked alongside Fraser for many years, servicing Chrysler members in both Canada and the U.S. He considered Fraser a close personal friend. "There was no question that Doug had a great social conscience and was one of the best bargainers I have ever worked with," said O'Neil.

Former CAW President Bob White echoed Hargrove's sentiments, calling Fraser an excellent leader, who was passionate about social justice and cared deeply about workers.
"He would take the stories of workers' troubles to the highest authority in the land, including the president of the United States," said White. White served on the Executive Board of the UAW as the Canadian Director during Fraser's presidency.

Prior to being elected president, Fraser was vice president in charge of the Chrysler division and worked closely with the UAW staff and membership in Canada and the U.S. Fraser was also known for pushing the union forward on human rights, having participated in the civil rights actions through out the 1960s.

He also built a culture of mutual respect with Canadian members of the UAW who were at times at odds with the international union. "Canadians felt close to Fraser because he recognized the differences between the two countries at a time when those differences were emerging more clearly," said Assistant to the National President Bob Chernecki.
CAW Local 444 President Ken Lewenza, who was a shop steward during Fraser's presidency, added that Chrysler workers in Canada had a special appreciation for him and always valued his opinion.