월터 루서

소개

월터 필립 루서(영어: Walter Philip Reuther, 1907년 9월 1일 ~ 1970년 5월 9일)는 미국의 사회운동가, 민권 운동가, 노동운동가이다. 1946년부터 1970년까지 전미 자동차 노동조합 위원장을 지냈으며 1955년 조지 미니와 함께 미국노동연맹–산별조직회의를 설립했다. 미국 민주당 내에서 큰 영향력을 행사했으며, 피그스만 침공 실패 후 포로 송환 협상을 위해 피델 카스트로에게 존 F. 케네디의 사절로 보내졌다. 마틴 루터 킹과 함께 활동하며 워싱턴 행진을 조직했으며, 전미 유색인 지위 향상 협회 이사로 활동하였고 민주행동을 위한 미국인들을 공동 설립했다.

Walter Philip Reuther was an American leader of organized labor and civil rights activist who built the United Automobile Workers (UAW) into one of the most progressive labor unions in American history. He considered labor movements not as narrow special interest groups but as instruments to advance social justice and human rights in democratic societies. He leveraged the UAW's resources and influence to advocate for workers' rights, civil rights, women's rights, universal health care, public education, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, profit-sharing for employees, and nuclear nonproliferation around the world. He believed in Swedish-style social democracy and societal change through nonviolent civil disobedience. He cofounded the AFL-CIO in 1955 with George Meany. He survived two attempted assassinations, including one at home where he was struck by a 12-gauge shotgun blast fired through his kitchen window. He was the fourth and longest serving president of the UAW, serving from 1946 until his death in 1970.