Owen Bieber Collection United Auto Workers President's Office Owen Bieber Collection Papers (1970-1995) Bulk (1984-1994) 41.25 linear feet Accession Number 1270 Status: processed & open DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION This section of the Owen Bieber presidential records, part of the UAW President's Office Collection, includes four series and provides extensive documentation of policies, programs and activities of the UAW. Beginning before and continuing until after his presidency, the records are comprised of Mr. Bieber's personal subject files and public appearance documentation including speeches and public events. The collection was placed in care of the Walter P. Reuther Library in 2005. BIOGRAPHY A native of Michigan, Owen Bieber (1929-present) was born in North Dorr on December 28,1929. Mr. Bieber first joined the UAW in 1948 working as a wire-bender in a spring factory. His father was also an autoworker and member of the UAW. Mr. Bieber held multiple positions within the UAW including President of Local 687 Regional UAW Director and Vice-President of UAW. Beginning at the 27th Constitutional Congress in Dallas, Owen Bieber was elected the 6th President of the UAW in 1983 succeeding Douglas Fraser. He served four consecutive terms. During his presidency, he was faced with challenging issues including the departure of the Canadian Auto Workers in 1985, the downsizing of American auto companies, and increasing competition from foreign auto companies. He is credited with diversifying the UAW by inviting new members from areas outside of industrial sectors to include both public and private associations. Active in the Democrat party, he became a political force advocating for working people on legislative issues and contributed to bringing President Clinton into the White House. He was vocal on legislation pertaining to national and international trade and the reformation of health care. On an international level, he lead the first trade unionist delegation to visit China meeting with Deng Xiaoping to acknowledge International Labor Day. Succeeded in 1995 by Stephen Yokich, Owen Bieber retired at the age of 65. 1 Owen Bieber Collection Subjects covered in the collection: Separation of the Canadian Auto Workers Trade with Japan Health Care reform Fair Practices in Automotive Products legislation NAFTA, anti-dumping Correspondents in the collection: Clinton, William Clinton, Hillary Iacocca, Lee Page, Leonard Reuther, Alan Forrest, Carolyn Additional materials can be found in: UAW International Executive Oral Histories UAW Region 1 Collection UAW Local 687 Collection WPR Audiovisual Department; stickers, buttons, posters, photographs 2 Owen Bieber Collection COLLECTION DESCRIPTION SUMMARY OF SERIES Series I Subject files. 1970 & 1982-1995(1983-1995) boxes 1-7 Series I consists of the subject files of Owen Bieber collected during his tenure as president of the UAW from 1983-1995. The subject files include correspondence, minutes and published materials pertaining to topics such as the severing of the Canadian division, the Clinton Administration, NAFTA, trade with Japan, and health care reform. File folders are arranged alphabetically by subject. This series uses the original folder titles along with alphabetic filing order. Series II Public Appearances. 1980-1994 boxes 7-33 Subjects vary including NAFTA and trade issues with Japan and Mexico, a declining auto industry, National Health Care, maquiladora workers, legislation, presidential elections and policies of the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations. Subseries A: Speeches boxes 7-20 Subseries A contains drafts of speeches made by Owen Bieber delivered to organizations ranging from local unions to congressional committees. Some speech drafts contain hand written notes and are accompanied by handouts and letters. Some speeches can be found in Subseries B. Subseries A is arranged using the original chronological filing and folder titles. Folders may contain additional documents and speeches. Subseries B: Public events boxes 20-32 Subseries B contains supporting documents for public appearances, predominately correspondence requesting Owen Bieber's presence and coordinating dates to provide testimony, give speeches and make appearances. Speeches included in this subseries are indicated in the title. See Subseries A for speeches. Subseries B is arranged using the original chronological filing and folder titles. Some folders contain speeches and are indicated on the title. Subseries C: Interviews and related correspondence box 32, folders 54-59 Subseries C contains transcripts, question and answer, and other materials for articles and radio interviews from 1984-1989. Files also include related correspondence. Subseries C is arranged in chronological order by year. Series III Subject Files. 1976-1982 (1980-1982) boxes 32-33 Series III contain the subject files of Owen Bieber in his early years with the UAW. 3 Owen Bieber Collection Series IV Press clips & photo examples. 1994-1994 box 33 Series IV contains press clips and photos. An example set of photographs were photocopied. To see the full set please refer to the Audiovisual Department. ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION The filling methods of both Series I and II were preserved in addition to the use of original folder titles with some clarifications added. An index is available on page 64. Abbreviations and acronyms used in container descriptions Abbreviations IMF International Metalworkers ack acknowledgements Foundation agr. agreement IPS Independent Parts and Suppliers ctr center IRRA Industrial Relations Research corresp. correspondence Association cmttee committee IUD Institute for Urban Development dept department JAW Japanese Auto Workers hq headquarters LCLAA Labor Council for Latin American ltr(s) letter(s) Advancement LU Local Union LUPA Local Union Press Association mtg meeting NAACP National Association for the neg. negotiations Advancement of Colored People n.d. no date NLRD National Labor Relations Board NUMMI New United Motor Manufacturing, Acronyms Inc. APRI A. Philip Randolph Institute PEL Paid Educational Leave CAP Community Action Program PQI Product Quality Improvement CAW Canadian Auto Workers TOP Technical, Office and Professional CBTU Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Section of UAW FEC Family Education Center WPR Walter P. Reuther IEB International Executive Board 4 Owen Bieber Collection Series I Series I Owen Bieber Collection Subject files, 1970 & 1982-1995 Boxes 1-7 Subject Files are arranged alphabetically with original folder titles. State names may be indicated using the two letter code. BOX 1 1.1 AFL-CIO Re-affiliation Data, list of data 1991, Oct. 1.2 African American Museum, Smithsonian 1991 1.3 Alaskan oil exports; maritime employment 1994, Jul-Sept. 1.4 Alaskan oil exports; AFL-CIO meeting 1994, Sept.-Nov. 1.5 American Quality Foundation; letter 1993 1.6 American Value Initiative; labor 1989 1.7 American Value Initiative; labor leader 1989 1.8 American Value Initiative; labor leader 1990-1991 1.9 American Value Initiative; advertising 1991 1.10 American Value Initiative; advertising 1991 1.11 Anti-Filibuster, "Action, Not Gridlock" 1993, Dec. 1.12 Article XX and XXI, AFL-CIO Merger agr. 1991, Nov. 1.13 Article XX, Protection, Independent union 1993-1994 1.14 Atlantic Automotive Components 1994 1.15 American Automobile Labeling Act; Big 3 1992-1994 1.16 Automotive Health Care Proposal 1993, Jan. 1.17 Bayh, Evan, Governor of Indiana; mtg. 1993 1.18 Betts legislation; Big 3 contracts 1992-1993 1.19 Bieber, Owen; genealogical inquiry 1990 1.20 Big 3 proposal on Free Trade Agr. 1991, Oct. 1.21 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ml; lawsuit 1994, Mar.-Apr. 1.22 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ml; lawsuit 1994, May 1.23 BMW; South Carolina plant, union talks 1992-1994 1.24 Bureau/National Affairs-questionnaire 1994 1.25 Buy American; article draft, origin chart 1990 1.26 C-17 aircraft; Douglas Aircraft Co. 1993-1994 1.27 Calendar idea for UAW members 1991, Aug. 1.28 California Clean Air Standards; adoption 1995 1.29 CAMI Automotive Inc.; labor agr./ CAW 1989 1.30 Campaign Finance Act, Ml; summary 1995 1.31 Campaign for Health Security; AFL-CIO 1994 1.32 Canadian Separation; special cmttee 1984-1985 1.33 Canadian Separation; certification, prop. 1985, Mar.-Apr. 1.34 Canadian Separation; strike fund 1985, May-Jun. 5 Owen Bieber Collection Series I 1.35 Canadian Separation; agr., costs 1985, Jul. 1.36 Canadian Separation; agr., costs 1985, June-Nov. 1.37 Canadian Separation;draft agreement 1986, Jan.-Mar. 1.38 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, Mar. 1.39 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, Apr. 1.40 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, Apr. 1.41 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, Apr. 1.42 Canadian Separation draft agreement 1986, Apr. 1.43 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, May 1.44 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, May 1.45 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, May 1.46 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, May 1.47 Canadian Separation; draft agreement 1986, May BOX 2 2.1 Canadian Separation; draft, exhibits 1980s 2.2 Canadian Separation; adoption draft 1986, May-Jun. 2.3 Canadian Separation; CAW name chg. 1986, Jul. 2.4 Canadian Separation; agr. checklist 1986, Jul. 2.5 Canadian Separation; transfer of funds 1986, Aug. 2.6 Canadian Separation; extension of agr. 1986, Sept. 2.7 Canadian Separation; financial transfer 1986, Nov. 2.8 Canadian Separation; IEB proceedings Dec. 10, 1984 2.9 Canadian Separation; IEB proceedings Dec. 10, 1984 2.10 Canadian Separation;