WHEELING — The Wheeling Academy of Law and Science (WALS) Foundation, in partnership with the Ohio County Public Library, is playing host on Friday, Aug. 29 to the nephew of one of Wheeling’s best-known sons — Walter Reuther, longtime president of the United Auto Workers Union.

Alan Reuther, son of Walter Reuther’s brother, Roy, has written a new book about his father and uncles.

“Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights” was published in April of this year by Michigan State University Press.

The event will serve as a pre-symposium book talk and will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, in advance of The Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium IX, presented by the WALS Foundation and the library, on Saturday, Aug. 30.

In the 340-page biography of Roy Reuther, the author examines his tumultuous life, including the triumphs and tragedies in the labor and civil rights movements. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers activists may face as they confront entrenched societal powers.

As the brother of famed labor leader Walter Reuther, Roy was a key figure in the historic Flint sit-down strike that gave birth to the United Auto Workers (UAW). He became the political director of the UAW and was deeply involved in struggles to pass civil rights legislation. This book explores his passion for increasing voter participation and his vow to help downtrodden farmworkers.

“Many of the injustices that Reuther fought continue to plague America today,” according to event organizers. “This book provides important context for the current efforts of workers to organize, for the Black Lives Matter movement, and for efforts to reform the filibuster rule and stop voter suppression. It shows how dedicated individuals can overcome enormous odds to win great victories for social justice and emphasizes the potential connections between the labor and civil rights movements, offering hope for a more just future.”

Alan Reuther received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1977. Following in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps, the author spent his career working for the United Auto Workers. 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.

Copies of Reuther’s book will be for sale for only $20, far below the retail price. Reuther will sign copies for any interested attendees. For information on the author, visit alanreuther.com.

The free event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday in the main room on the first floor of the First State Capitol Building at 1413 Eoff St. on Friday, Aug. 29. Snacks and beverages will be served.

The talk is a precursor to the annual Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium, which will take place at the same venue the next day beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for registration and a continental breakfast.

At 10 a.m., Dr. Peter Cole will present “Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly,” followed at 11 a.m. by Dr. Jeffrey Johnson’s “This Dastardly Act: San Francisco’s 1916 Preparedness Day Bombing.”

A lunch break will take place at noon, with lunch provided. A Reuther birthday celebration and walking tour to the Reuther & Pollack monuments will be led by Dr. Hal Gorby.

At 2 p.m., author Raymond Tyler and illustrator Summer McClinton will present from the graphic novel, “Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars.”

James Schneider’s presentation at 3 p.m. will be on the movie “Joe Hill,” in which a union organizer tries to change the world and is met with violence. This will be followed by “Union Organizing and Democracy” presented at 4 p.m. by John Russell.

See the WALS Foundation’s Facebook page for presenter biographies and additional details, or visit walswheeling.org.

The Reuther-Pollack Labor History Symposium is held on Labor Day Weekend near the birthday of Wheeling’s own Walter Reuther (born Sept. 1, 1907), longtime UAW and CIO President and Civil Rights Activist. It is also named for Wheeling Hall of Famer Augustus Pollack, a stogie maker, and the only business owner to have a monument built in his honor by union members. Both the Reuther and Pollack monuments stand at Heritage Port.

The WALS Foundation is a non-profit corporation established in 2004 to promote educational programming and consulting in the areas of education, employment, energy, labor history and the environment, and in doing so, to promote local economic opportunity, employment and job creation in the city of Wheeling and state of West Virginia.