{{Short description|American labor leader (1924–1987)}} '''Raymond E. Majerus''' (1924 – December 17, 1987) was an American labor leader who served as secretary-treasurer of the United Auto Workers from 1980 until [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/17/obituaries/raymond-e-majerus-dies-at-63-secretary-treasurer-of-uaw.html his death] in 1987.<ref name="nyt">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/17/obituaries/raymond-e-majerus-dies-at-63-secretary-treasurer-of-uaw.html |title= Raymond E. Majerus Dies at 63; Secretary-Treasurer of U.A.W. |author=John Holusha |date=1987-12-17 |newspaper=The New York Times |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103011744/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/17/obituaries/raymond-e-majerus-dies-at-63-secretary-treasurer-of-uaw.html |archive-date=2017-11-03 |access-date=2018-02-18 }}</ref> From 1954 to 1960, Majerus was a key figure in the Kohler strike.<ref name="nyt" />
==Biography==
Majerus began working for Kohler Co. in the early 1950s.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/20/sports/for-majerus-no-place-is-like-the-final-four.html|title=For Majerus, No Place Is Like the Final Four|first=Tom|last=Friend|work=The New York Times |date=20 March 1997|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> In 1952, Majerus led a wildcat strike for which he was fired.<ref name="auto"/> He remained involved in labor organization efforts at Kohler, however, and played a role in the decision to affiliate the company-supported Kohler Workers Association with the United Automobile Workers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/06/archives/the-kohlers-of-wisconsin-the-kohlers-of-wisconsin-mostly-a-family-a.html|title=The Kohlers of Wisconsin|first=Marylin|last=Bender|work=The New York Times |date=6 May 1973|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref name="nyt" /> When the U.A.W. won its first contract with Kohler in 1953, one of the provisions insisted that Majerus be barred from working at the plant.<ref name="nyt" />
Despite the ban, Majerus served as a union representative and was a key figure in the Kohler strike that lasted from 1954 to 1960.<ref name="nyt" /> The union eventually won the strike, and Kohler was forced to give workers back pay.<ref name="nyt" />
In 1965, while working as a U.A.W. staff member in the Wisconsin-Minnesota region, Majerus traveled to Selma, Alabama to march for civil rights.<ref name="auto"/>
Majerus was elected director of the Wisconsin-Minnesota region of the U.A.W. in 1972.<ref name="nyt" /> Eight years later, in 1980, he was elected secretary-treasurer of the United Automobile Workers, the second-highest position in the union.<ref name="nyt" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/06/07/archives/auto-union-gets-new-leadership-no-big-shift-in-policies-is-expected.html|title=Auto Union Gets New Leadership; No Big Shift in Policies Is Expected; New Assignments Made Reporters Are Cautioned Thousands Are Out of Work|work=The New York Times |date=7 June 1980|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
In 1982, Majerus sought the presidency of the United Automobile Workers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/21/us/4-seek-presidency-of-auto-workers.html|title=4 SEEK PRESIDENCY OF AUTO WORKERS|first=John Holusha and Special To the New York|last=Times|work=The New York Times |date=21 September 1982 |publisher=}}</ref> He was an early front-runner, but ultimately lost to Owen Bieber.<ref name="nyt" />
In addition to his union positions, Majerus also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee from Wisconsin.<ref name="nyt" />
He [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/17/obituaries/raymond-e-majerus-dies-at-63-secretary-treasurer-of-uaw.html died] on December 16, 1987, of a heart attack.<ref name="nyt" />
==Personal life==
He was the father of basketball coach Rick Majerus.<ref name="auto"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{start box}} {{s-npo|union}} {{succession box|title=Secretary-Treasurer of the United Auto Workers|years=1980–1987|before=Emil Mazey|after=Bill Casstevens}} {{end box}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Majerua, Ray}} Category:1924 births Category:1987 deaths Category:United Auto Workers people Category:American trade union leaders Category:Democratic National Committee people Category:20th-century American trade unionists