Irving Bluestone Papers

Irving Bluestone (January 5, 1917-November 17, 2007) was born and raised in New York City. He received his B.A. at City College of New York in 1937 and attended the University of Bern, Switzerland for one year of postgraduate studies. In 1942, he joined the UAW in New Jersy and showing promise, was moved to Detroit in 1947 by Walter Reuther to join the General Motors Department. He became Leonard Woodcock's administrative assistant in 1955 and Walter Reuther's in 1961. In 1972 he was elected Vice President of the UAW and also served as the Director of UAW General Motors Department. Bluestone retired from the UAW in 1980 and became a professor and then director of the Labor Studies progam at Wayne State University, a position he held until 1999. During his retirement he served on numerous labor and economic councils, was heavily involved in Joint Action and Quality of Work Life programs, promoted Michigan industry and economy, and served as a labor representative on several companies' board of directors. In 1999 he retired fully and moved to Brookline, Massachusettts. This collection highlights Bluestone's retirment years from 1980-1999. It covers his activities on labor councils, economic alliances, worker's programs, technology and manufacturing research, and Quality of Work Life and Joint Action programs. His educational work and research are included, as well as his corresponcence, publications and speeches.