Ben Fischer: November 26, 1913 - November 12, 2006

Ben Fischer, Distinguished Public Service Professor of Labor Studies and Public Policy Emeritus at the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management of Carnegie Mellon University, died on Sunday, November 12, just two weeks before his 93rd birthday.

Prior to 1980 Fischer served as an official of the United Steelworkers of America for 37 years, starting in economic research and then as assistant to four presidents of the Union. Throughout his career he was active in many phases of community life on a local, state, and national level. He led national major labor negotiations involving the nation’s metal industries, including the establishment of programs to alleviate worker problems during the restructuring of the steel industry during the 60s, 70s and 80s.  He served as a major architect in developing the system of labor arbitration, including expedited arbitration of grievances and the no-strike Experimental Negotiating Agreement in the basic steel industry.  He helped develop comprehensive and enduring civil rights programs in the metal industries, including the development and administration of the landmark consent decree in the steel industry. During the period of Walter Reuther’s presidency of the CIO, Fischer was the housing director of the CIO and an organizer and leader of ACTION, initiated by President Eisenhower’s housing advisory committee.  He and R.K. Mellon co-founded Action-Housing of Pittsburgh, and Fischer served as its president.

Upon his retirement from the Steelworkers in 1979, he served as Chairman of the Governor Thornburg’s Employment and Training Council.  He joined Carnegie Mellon University in 1981, where he organized and directed the University’s Center for Labor Studies.  He served as consultant to the Inner Circle Group, an organization of chief Human Resource Executives of major USA corporations and was Trustee of Point Park College (now University) for 15 years.  In 1984 he was honored as Pittsburgh’s Man of the Year in Labor. Fischer continued writing, consulting and teaching at CMU’s Academy for Lifelong learning until his death.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sylvia Felser Fischer; son Fred Fischer and his wife Uschi;daughter Suzan Wynne and her husband Ron; Elise Fischer; daughter Kari Uman and Larry; the late Mark Fischer; step-son Gary Randal and his wife Patricia; step-daughter Jill Carnig and her husband Don; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.