【美国人物志】五个劳工领袖 (5/9)

英语自学网

在二十世纪初，美国的劳动者往往工作相当长的时间才能得到很少的工资，甚至有许多是在极其危险的条件下工作的。然而，大约有五百万的工人已加入了一个称为工会的群体，渴望能改善他们的处境。下面讲述的是5个致力于改善和提高工人工作环境的工会领袖。
Hints:
Walter Reuther
Lewis
United Automobile WorkersWalter Reuther was the vice-president of the CIO under Lewis, and became its president in 1952. Reuther believed unions had a social responsibility. His ideas were partly influenced by his German father who was a socialist.
Walter Reuther was trained to make tools to cut metal. He joined the United Automobile Workers union when it first formed in 1935.
Walter Reuther was president of the United Auto Workers for 23 years beginning in 1946. He shaped the UAW into one of the most militant and forward-looking unions. He held strikes to gain increased wages for workers, but, at the same time, he expected workers to increase their rate of production. He was the first to link pay raises to productivity increases. Reuther also was greatly concerned about civil rights and the environment.
In 1955, Reuther helped the AFL and CIO re-join as one organization.
Reuther's ideas were recognized worldwide. But they also brought him enemies. He survived three murder attempts. He said, "You have to make up your mind whether you are willing to accept things as they are or whether you are willing to try to change them."