'His memory will live on in the work we do every day to fight for justice, fairness, and dignity for all workers'
One of Canada's most influential labour leaders has died at the age of 81.
Basil "Buzz" Hargrove, former president of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), passed away on Sunday, reported the Windsor Star.
Hargrove had been battling some health issues in recent months and was at Toronto’s St. Joseph Hospital as of Saturday, according to the report.
“I’m saddened and grieving like so many others who know Buzz professionally and personally,” said former CAW president Ken Lewenza Sr., a close friend who succeeded Hargrove as president in 2008, in the report.
“It’s a loss for the labour movement.”
Lewenza said Hargrove’s passionate fight for pensions, health care and social justice around the world was the foundation of the CAW.
“Buzz would want to be remembered for maintaining the principled position of a social democratic union,” Lewenza said, according to the Winsdor Star. “He wanted the movement to benefit the membership and society in general.
“Buzz never sulked when things were discouraging. He got the ball and ran with it.
“There are hundreds of thousands of people today, whether they know it or not, whose quality of life has been enhanced by that.”
Hargrove began his working life on the shop floor of Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant, according to Unifor.
He played a central role in the CAW’s historic break from the UAW in 1985 and the creation of an autonomous Canadian union that put workers’ needs first. As president, he led negotiations with major employers—including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada, and CN Rail—securing gains that elevated standards across sectors.
In recognition of his many contributions, Hargrove received numerous honorary doctorates from Canadian universities and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008. Following his retirement, he remained an active voice for labour, including as Director of the Centre for Labour Management Relations at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).
The CAW, alongside the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP), merged in 2013 to form Unifor—now the country’s largest private sector union, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
“Buzz was tenacious and a great leader who inspired generations of union activists,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “What many might not know is his patience and generosity in sharing his many skills and knowledge with others. As National President of Unifor I was one of the many who benefitted from his legacy and his friendship.
“Our union has lost an extraordinary champion. His memory will live on in the work we do every day to fight for justice, fairness, and dignity for all workers.”
Fernando Garcia, chief people and legal officer, Opta Group, added: “I was very sorry to hear about the passing of Buzz Hargrove. He was a true force in the practice of Canadian labour relations. We were not often on the same side of the table, but that never stopped me from appreciating the impact he had on the labour movement and the way he carried himself in every interaction.
“I always admired his strength of conviction, his deep commitment to workers, and the way he approached difficult conversations with clarity and purpose.”
In April, Unifor filed a grievance alleging that the Hudson’s Bay Company is “unilaterally slashing workers’ commission pay” as it proceeds with its liquidation.
File photo from Unifor's Facebook page
