Unifor says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died
TORONTO – Canada's largest private-sector union says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died.
In a statement Sunday, Unifor says Basil 'Buzz' Hargrove was 'a beloved and iconic figure in Canada's labour movement' who 'was a tireless advocate for working people and a deeply respected leader.'
Hargrove was national president of the CAW from 1992 until his retirement in 2008, shortly before he reached the union's mandatory retirement age of 65.
The CAW merged with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union in 2013 to become Unifor.
Born in Bath, N.B., in 1944, Unifor says Hargrove grew up in a family of 10 children and began his working life on the shop floor of Chrysler's Windsor, Ont., assembly plant.
As CAW president, Unifor says he led negotiations with major employers including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada and CN Rail, securing gains that elevated standards across sectors.
'He never forgot where he came from — and he carried that working-class spirit with him into every boardroom, bargaining session and public forum,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne in the union's statement.
'His passion, his intellect, and his uncompromising belief in justice for working people shaped the labour movement we know today.'
Hargrove took over leadership of the CAW from Bob White, who led the union as it split from the U.S.-based United Auto Workers in 1985.
The Canadian union, which disagreed with the UAW's bargaining direction, negotiated some of the richest contracts for workers in Canada, and under Hargrove's leadership it expanded beyond the auto industry into other sectors, including the airlines, mines and fisheries.
Unifor said that Hargrove was 'a committed social unionist,' and pushed the CAW to fight for broader social justice issues including public health care, retirement security, equity, and fair trade.
'We owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he did to build a fairer Canada,' Payne added.
Hargrove told reporters upon his retirement that he wasn't planning on taking it easy.
Monday Mornings
The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week.
'I'm not going to sit in a rocking chair and I'm not going to play golf, that's not my style,' Hargrove said at a news conference in Toronto in 2008.
His later activities included over a year with the NHL Players' Association, working first on the union's advisory board and then as interim ombudsman. He also served as director of the Centre for Labour Management Relations at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Hargrove was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.
Unifor said details on a celebration of his life and legacy will be shared in the coming days.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada Standard
18 minutes ago
- Canada Standard
"Direction looks positive": India's Acting High Commissioner in Canada ahead of talks between PM Modi, Carney
Calgary [Canada], June 16 (ANI): India's Acting High Commissioner to Canada, Chinmoy Naik, has expressed optimism over discussions set to be held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta. Speaking to ANI, Naik stated that PM Modi has been invited to G7 Summit by Carney and noted that India will be participating in the G7 Summit as a guest country for the sixth time. He stated that India at the G7 Summit will speak about energy security, innovation, new technologies like AI. On PM Modi's visit to G7 Summit, he said, 'As your are aware that honourable Prime Minister of India has been invited to attend the G7 2025 Summit as an outreach guest country by the honorable Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney. This is the sixth consecutive time India is coming to G7 as a guest country which speaks for India's importance on the world stage today. In this particular G7, India will be speaking about energy security, innovation, new technologies like AI, Quantum etc, which are contemporary topics that will effect all of us and our views will will definitely get noticed, I am sure.' 'In addition to that, there will be bilaterals on the sidelines. As you know, the G7 countries and also some other rich countries are also here in Calgary and there will be interactions on that front as well. That also includes interaction with meeting with Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada as well,' the Indian envoy said. Prime Minister will travel to Canada's Kananaskis to attend the G7 Summit on June 16-17. This will be PM Modi's sixth consecutive participation in the G7 Summit. Asked about his expectation regarding bilateral ties following the meeting between PM Modi and Carney, Naik said, 'At this point, I'll just say that honourable Prime Minister tweeted the moment Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected. So that was a good signal. And now we are seeing the visit happening at his invitation. I think those hold significance in themselves. We will see how the discussion goes and what comes out of it. I would say the direction looks positive. But as I said, around this visit and around this meeting, you can already see so much of enthusiasm and positivity, which is what should be noted.' He stated that Indian diaspora in Canada is very excited for PM Modi's visit and that the Indian High Commission is receiving feedback from Indo-Canadians ever since PM Modi's visit to Canada was announced. When asked about Indian community's reaction to PM Modi's visit, he said, 'As soon as the visit was announced, we have been getting feedback from all over the Indo-Canadian community across Canada. As you know, there's 1.8 million Indo-Canadian diaspora here and they are excited, they are full of energy and they have been expressing themselves in various forms. I would invite you to see our social media handles and see for yourself.' 'From Cyprus, I will travel to Kananaskis, Canada to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Summit will provide space for exchange of views on pressing global issues and the priorities of the Global South. I also look forward to engaging with leaders from partner countries,' he said. PM Modi arrived in Cyprus on Sunday, marking the beginning of his three-nation official visit to Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia. After concluding his visit to Croatia, PM Modi will travel to Canada to attend G7 Summit. In his statement before departing for his three-nation visit, PM Modi had stated, 'From Cyprus, I will travel to Kananaskis, Canada to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister HE Mark Carney. The Summit will provide space for exchange of views on pressing global issues and the priorities of the Global South. I also look forward to engaging with leaders from partner countries,' he said. The G7 Summit is an international forum held annually for the leaders of the G7 member states of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada and the European Union (EU). PM Modi's visit to Canada comes after a period of strained relations between the two countries, triggered by Canadian allegations that Indian agents were involved in the killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside gurdwara in Canada in 2023. India strongly rejected the allegations and both nations expelled senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat escalation. India has expressed concern about extremism and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against it. (ANI)
Toronto Star
37 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Is it OK to wear shorts in the office? We asked the experts
There is a silent debate raging in the workplace, an unspoken war of knees and shins and inseams and socks. There is sun, there is sweat and there are shifting concepts of what it means to be professional. There is one central question: Are shorts in the office acceptable? Some say absolutely not and others ask why not, and now, as June heads toward July, is the time to ask. The Star turned to a fashion designer, stylist, university professor and workplace culture consultant to get to the bottom of what's acceptable, what's not and how to figure out the difference. Don't like shorts? Blame tech companies — and the pandemic Michael Halinski says he has never worn shorts or sandals to teach at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he's a professor in the school of business management and studies workplaces and organizational change. He's not a purist, though. He has worn T-shirts. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW He said there's been a shift in workplace dress over the past 20 years, propelled by three distinct influences. The first is the rise of tech companies. From the Steve Jobs turtleneck to the Mark Zuckerberg T-shirt, Silicon Valley has embraced a more relaxed dress code and has, in turn, pushed other industries to loosen theirs. The second, Halinski said, was the pandemic. Working from home inspired more relaxed attire and it became commonplace to see coworkers wearing T-shirts or sweaters on Zoom calls. There's even a term for the video call outfit: the mullet. Business on top, casual on the bottom. Business 'Comfort is king': Workers are returning to the office but formal wear isn't following suit Joshua Chong There's also been a shift in the treatment of employees. 'People were robots. You were not allowed to show any empathy, you were not allowed to show any emotion,' Halinski said. 'The acceptance of differences, diversity, emotions … perhaps has allowed for greater acceptance of different dress codes.' It depends on the workplace There are still many different approaches. Carol Ring, an Ottawa-based workplace culture consultant, has seen rules that run the gamut. There are authoritarian codes with strong language and threats of disciplinary action, 'almost like parents scolding children,' and there are more trusting policies. The policy at Ross Video, a Canadian live production company, works with the mantra of 'dress for the day,' Ring said. A day spent in your own cubicle allows for casual wear. A meeting with clients demands more professional attire. If you're presenting to the board, you probably want a suit and tie. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'They trust their employees,' said Ring, a former Rogers executive. 'They empower their employees to dress appropriately.' TD has changed its dress code to be more relaxed when an employee isn't meeting with a client, Halinski said. Shorts are probably still frowned upon. Shorts can give the impression of a workplace that is 'loose and carefree and casual,' said Tracy Richardson, a media image consultant and stylist. That's why it matters if your job will be public facing that day or not. '(If) a client comes in, what it says is, this is a casual environment,' Richardson said. 'It can come across as not having respect.' Ultimately, you should read the room before wearing shorts to work, advised Michael Jafine, the Toronto-based head designer of Ahiri, a womenswear label. How to decide whether to wear shorts … Richardson believes shorts shouldn't be worn at work. For Jafine, it depends on the circumstances, but ultimately, he advises caution. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'For the men reading this article who have no clue about fashion,' Jafine said, 'don't wear the shorts. Don't do it.' Fashion Are shorts OK at work? Should men wear sandals? Summer office dress codes, decoded Sarah Laing Ring offers a three-step decision process. First, check the dress code, if there is one. Next, consider if you can perform your job safely in shorts. Finally, consider having a conversation with your manager. 'Just say, 'I'm curious. Under what circumstances would it be acceptable for me to wear shorts?'' Halinski suggests a simple rule: 'Dress the way your boss dresses.' … and how to pull it off If you've decided to wear shorts, Richardson suggests a pair of chinos or linen shorts, sitting just above the knee for men or a little higher for women. Avoid loud colours, Jafine said. '(Stick) to more neutrals, dusted colours, grayed-out shades,' he said. 'Classic silhouettes, something with a little more of a tailored approach.' But for those looking for a clear answer on the shorts debate, you're out of luck. It doesn't appear to be headed to a resolution. 'Will there be a time when shorts are accepted? I don't know,' Halinski said. 'I think there's always going to be this tension.'
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
In the news today: Carney to meet Trump this morning at G7 in Alberta
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed… Carney to meet Trump this morning at G7 in Alberta Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet this morning with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Alberta. It's Trump's first visit to Canada since he started repeatedly saying the country should become an American state, leading Canadians to boo the American anthem at hockey games. Trump stormed out of the last G7 summit that Canada hosted, in 2018, and many will be watching this morning's meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. local time in Kananaskis, Alta. The meeting comes weeks into regular calls and text messages between Carney and Trump as they try to resolve an economic spat caused by Trump's various tariffs. Carney is also leading discussions today on safety issues and artificial intelligence, while meeting with leaders from places including Japan, France and Italy. Here's what else we're watching… Protesters gather as G7 gets underway in Alberta As world leaders gather at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., Lesley Boyer has a message. The Calgary grandmother is angry that U.S. President Donald Trump keeps talking about Canada becoming his country's 51st state. Sitting in a wheelchair at Calgary City Hall on Sunday, Boyer held up a sign with an expletive aimed at Trump. Boyer was among several hundred people — including labour, youth, Indigenous, political and environmental activists — protesting before most of the G7 leaders had touched down in the city. Trump arrived late Sunday at the Calgary airport before taking a helicopter to the summit site at Kananaskis in the Rocky Mountains. He was to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday morning before the official summit was to begin. Roots CEO sees opportunity in buy Canadian era Rifling through the Roots Corp. product archives on a recent Thursday morning, CEO Meghan Roach is surrounded by the kind of heritage 'most consumer brands would die to have.' In every direction she turns are racks of leather jackets spanning the company's 52 years. Some are replicas of custom pieces gifted to Toronto Raptors players for their 2019 championship win, the cast of Saturday Night Live for its fiftieth anniversary or the Jamaican bobsled team that inspired the 'Cool Runnings' film. Others are even more rare: a forest green jacket stitched with a floral and friendship bracelet motif for pop star Taylor Swift, and one adorned with snazzy sunglasses and piano key pockets that marked Elton John's retirement from touring, the lining of which features 56 years of albums. What they have in common is an origin story that began with the building Roach is standing in — the Roots leather factory in north Toronto. The Canadian operation is a rarity these days, after clothing manufacturing largely migrated overseas in the sixties, when brands wanted to reduce costs and offload repetitive and sometimes time-consuming tasks. N.L. pitches in to end fish-sauce plant stench A coastal Newfoundland town besieged for decades by the fetid stench wafting from an abandoned fish-sauce factory has finally received good news. Steve Ryan, the mayor of St. Mary's, N.L., said he nearly broke down in tears when officials with the Newfoundland and Labrador government told him the province would foot the bill to clean up the festering site. The promise brings residents close to the end of a decades-long ordeal that has kept them indoors on beautiful days, lest the smell get in their hair and clothes. The decaying Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company Ltd. building sits on the shoreline of the town of about 300 people, just steps away from the ocean. It first opened in 1990, bringing about two dozen much-needed jobs to the area, Ryan said. But the owner abandoned it about a decade later, after extended legal battles about food safety complaints. More than 100 oozing vats of fermenting fish remain in the crumbling building. Liquids from the 11,500-litre tanks once ran into the harbour through a broken drain pipe, but the federal fisheries department demanded the run-off system be sealed with concrete, Ryan said. Now the fluids pool in the plant, creating a putrid stew roughly 30 centimetres deep, Ryan said. Drones an everyday challenge in Quebec jails On any given day, drones buzz in the skies above Quebec's detention centres looking to drop tobacco, drugs or cellphones to the inmates below. Statistics from Quebec's public security minister show staff reported 274 drones flying over provincial centres between January and March — or just over three per day. That doesn't include the 10 federally-managed prisons in the province. Corrections spokespeople and a drone expert say the problem is growing, dangerous and hard to stop, despite millions of dollars invested by provincial and federal governments. Stéphane Blackburn, the managing director for Quebec's correctional services, described the threat of airborne contraband as 'something we face every day.' The provincial figures show 195 of the 247 drones were seen dropping packages. Most of them — 69 per cent — were reported as seized. The province also seized 896 cellphones. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
