Lawyer helped open mills to minorities
While spending 46 years as the United Steelworkers' chief negotiator, Bernard Kleiman built a reputation as a leading labor lawyer.
He also is remembered for his role in a 1974 federal consent decree that brought the steel industry into compliance with the Civil Rights Act and opened mill jobs to blacks and women.
Bernard Kleiman, of Squirrel Hill, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, at UPMC Presbyterian, Oakland. He was 78.
Mr. Kleiman was born in Chicago and raised in Kendallville, Ind., where his father was a scrap dealer.
After graduating from high school, where he had played center on the varsity basketball team, Mr. Kleiman enlisted in the Army after the end of World War II and served in Korea during the Korean War.
Upon receiving his discharge from the military, he attended Purdue University, where he received his degree in metallurgical engineering. He received his law degree from the Northwestern University School of Law.
In 1960, Mr. Kleiman began his career as a labor attorney. His reputation was such that by 1965, he was named general counsel of the entire steelworkers union.
During his tenure as a general counsel, he was known for his marathon bargaining efforts and for working with such corporate giants as U.S. Steel, Kaiser Aluminum and Continental Tire.
Although he officially retired from the union last summer, he continued to report for work and was involved in the union's current strike against Goodyear.
Mr. Kleiman is survived by his wife, Gloria Baime Kleiman; a daughter, Leslie Kleiman, of Cobble Hill, British Columbia; a son, David Kleiman, of Chicago; and stepchildren, David Mamet and Lynn Mamet, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Dr. Richard Baime, of Philadelphia, David Baime, of Washington, D.C., and Ronald Baime, of Pittsburgh.
He is also survived by his brother, David Kleiman, of Indianapolis; and his sister, Carolyn Winn, of Locust Valley, N.Y.; three grandchildren; and nine step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lee Kleiman.
Services are scheduled at 3 p.m. today at Ralph Schugar Chapel Inc., 5509 Centre Ave., Shadyside. Visitation prior to the service is from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
