Alan Reuther is one of two sons of Roy and Fania Reuther, and the nephew of famed labor leader Walter Reuther. He received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977, graduating magna cum laude. He also was a Note and Comment Editor for the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, Volume 10 (1976-77), and published several articles on labor law topics.

Following in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps, the author spent his career working for the United Auto Workers (UAW). In 1977 he began as a lawyer in the union’s Legal Department, litigating in federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1982 he transferred to the UAW’s Washington office to work on legislative matters. He became Legislative Director in 1991, and supervised the union’s activities lobbying Congress and the Executive Branch on health care, pensions, worker rights and other issues.

After retiring from the UAW in 2010, the author has consulted on health care issues for union retiree health care funds. In September 2011, he published an article for the Center for American Progress, “Workers and their Health Care Plans: The Impact of the New Health Insurance Exchanges and Medicaid Expansion on Employer-Sponsored Health Care Plans.”

After residing in Washington, D.C. for 33 years, the author now lives with his wife in Texas, splitting his time between Austin and Oakalla.

As the son of Roy Reuther, and with his background working for the UAW, Alan Reuther is in a unique position to tell the story of the struggles in Roy’s life.