Latest news with #CanadianAutoWorkers
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Buzz Hargrove, longtime Canadian labour leader, dies at 81
Basil 'Buzz' Hargrove, the uncompromising Canadian labour leader who spent more than 16 years at the helm of the Canadian Auto Workers and helped define an era of working-class advocacy in the country, has died at age 81. Hargrove's career spanned more than four decades, rising from the shop floor of Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant to become national president of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), a position he held from 1992 until his retirement in 2008. Under his leadership, CAW membership expanded well beyond auto manufacturing, into railways, mining, fisheries and airlines.
Toronto Sun
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Unifor says former Canadian Auto Workers president Hargrove has died
Published Jun 15, 2025 • 2 minute read Canada's largest private-sector union says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died. Photo by Toronto Sun files Canada's largest private-sector union says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove has died. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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 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. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. '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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. '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. Sports Toronto & GTA Canada Relationships Sunshine Girls
Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Unifor mourns the loss of Buzz Hargrove, tireless champion of workers' rights
TORONTO, June 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Basil "Buzz" Hargrove, a beloved and iconic figure in Canada's labour movement. As National President of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) from 1992 until his retirement in 2008, Buzz was a tireless advocate for working people and a deeply respected leader whose impact will be felt for generations.
