(1907-70), labor leader. Reuther served as president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1946 until his death. As president of the
Congress of Industrial Organizations (1952-55) and vice president of the
American Federation of Labor -
Congress of Industrial Organizations (1955-58), Reuther helped plan the merger of the two unions and served as president of one of its departments from 1955 to 1968. He was the first union leader to gain a contract with a major industry tying wages to the cost of living.
