Donald Selwyn Slaiman (March 18, 1919 – October 24, 2000) was an American labor unionist and political activist.
Born in New York City, Slaiman studied at the City College of New York, then served with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. After the war, he became a labor organizer in Buffalo, New York, and was a leader of the unsuccessful United Auto Workers strike of 1949.[1][2]
Early in the 1950s, Slaiman moved to work for the Jewish Labor Committee, then in 1959 he moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the AFL-CIO. In 1964, he was appointed as the head of the federation's civil rights department. In that role, he focused on ensuring that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was implemented, and led the federation's delegation to one of the Selma to Montgomery marches. He provided the initial funding for the A. Philip Randolph Institute. He left the civil rights committee in 1974, and in 1979 became chair of the AFL-CIO's labor committee. From 1979 to 1983, he also served as president of the Jewish Labor Committee.[1][2]
Slaiman retired in 1983, and became president of the Social Democrats USA. He held the post until the mid-1990s, when he became less active due to poor health, and was instead made chairman of the political organization.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Bernstein, Adam (October 25, 2000). "Donald S. Slaiman, 81, Dies". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ a b Pace, Eric (October 26, 2000). "D. S. Slaiman, 81, Union Official Active in Civil Rights Movement". New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2023.