Fraser, Douglas Andrew (1916-2008), was an American labor leader. He served as president of the United Automobile Workers (UAW), one of the largest labor unions in the United States, from 1977 to 1983.
Fraser was born on Dec. 18, 1916, in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Detroit with his family when he was 6 years old. In 1934, he went to work as a metal finisher for the De Soto division of the Chrysler Corporation. He joined the UAW in 1935. In 1943, at the age of 27, Fraser became president of one of the UAW’s local unions in Detroit.
During the 1950’s, Fraser served eight years as an administrative assistant to Walter P. Reuther, who was then president of the UAW. From 1970 to 1977, Fraser served as vice president of the union. Fraser died on Feb. 23, 2008.
