C.I.A. LINKS TO LABOR, SABOTAGE OF TRADE UNIIONS REVEALED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01350R000200420037-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: August 28, 1976
• Content Type: NSPR

OAKLAND, CAi,TFORi4IA
3LACK, F''? 1197
ClrEKLY
(Los Angeles, Calif.) - The
existence of extensive ties be-
tween the CIA and AFL-CIO
leadership has been cenfirrgred by
one of the founders of the- CIO
and a veteran of 40.years in the
American labor - movement, re-
ports Rodney Larson of Research,
Associates International. '
Victor- ; Reuther, brother ' of
United-'-Auto- .Workers- ? former
President Walter-- Reuther, has
just completed a:book do^ument-
t a e history of CIA
h
e ex
Ing t
and-labor, Solidarity of Subver- Y,r;,,-Y?ar7 7,,,ti wctpnsive CM infiltration.
sion,
Reuther was in an unusually Lovestone was rn,de director of for almost two years before their
good position to judge the effect international affairs of.,the AFL-. involveinent in the UAW.
of-the CIA's use 'of U.S. labor CIO over the protests of the.UAW Victor Reuther says that after
programs overseas. As director of and Wa.itlxer and . Victor Reuther 'this 1957. trip, - CIO .president
the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the 19,50s. Phil . Murray, asked . him - - to=
International Affairs Department . In 1957., Victor Reuther was assume the, directorship of the' I
for many years, he 'was able to released -from his UAW. duties in European office of the CIO that observe the actions of represents- the U.S. and was sent.. an a long might, 'in part, help to counter the
tives of other unions, the AFL, tour''through Euippe,.ta. assess more. conservative policies of the
and the-world-wide' apparatus of :. , the state ofEuropeantradeunion- AFL office, there, : under the
d T-Arlo
an
d
the - merged. .H.r .L an
was ruxr.: by former-: leftists and extensive experience in. the inter- Brown.
Communists under the direction national -aspects of trade union- ? - - Reuther says that he found out
of AFL-CIO international director ism and vas abl to. utilize his .. , that Irving Brown and the AFL
Jay Lovestone experiences and ontacts gained- were receiving incredibly large
According . to Reuther, Love- during a'.trip through-: Europe. to funds from some U.S. govern- .
stop played an- important role: in the Soviet, Union: in' the early meat source in an effort=-to` get _T
attempts to split the infant.UAW 1930s.-,Both Victor and Walther European trade unions. in - his
and cooperated with auto coin Reuther worked h a Soviet auto pocket and to dictate the foreign
parries as early as-the rnid-1930s. plant (established by Henry. Ford) policy of both European and
African cou.nrtries."-
'
.:
His investigations showed :that.
the ."hysterical fear of Cormnu-
nism. that produced McCarthyism,
-in Ainerica was::being_spread-, by,
means of CIA money, first by the
AFL. and later by the merged
AFL-CIO winder Meany's;'-auto-
cratic rule
Approved For Release 2004/10/13 : CIA-RDP88-0135OR000200420037-8