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A Canadian Auto Union Leader Realized Media, Communication Important
Buzz Hargrove, former president of the Canadian Auto Workers union
Over the weekend, Basil 'Buzz' Hargrove, 81, died. He was the president of the Canadian Auto Workers union from 1992 to 2008. His passing was announced by Unifor, the successor organization to the CAW.
The CAW originally was part of the Detroit-based United Auto Workers union. The Canadian union broke away after disagreements with the Detroit union.
Hargrove struck a much different done than the UAW.
Buzz Hargrove embraced being a public figure. By the 1980s, UAW chiefs were much more low key. Some UAW chiefs, such as Steve Yokich (1994 to 2002) and Ron Gettelfinger (2002 to 2010) were openly hostile to journalists.
Hargrove followed a different path.
In 2002 and 2005, I covered the CAW's labor talks with the Detroit-based automakers.
For each round of negotiations, the Canadian union rented space at three different Toronto hotels. If a reporter could secure a room at the respective hotels, you could wander up to the CAW offices and chat with the union staff.
Buzz Hargrove also viewed the press as a means to get his message out. He would come down to the press room at each hotel and conduct a press conference.
More importantly, once the union reached an agreement with each automaker, the CAW viewed reporters as a way to reveal contract details prior to a ratification vote – pay, benefits, the fate of certain factories.
Across the border? The UAW (at least during the Yokich and Gettelfinger eras) viewed reporters as the enemy. There were no details to be revealed about contract details until members voted. The UAW wanted complete control.
There were times when Buzz Hargrove surprised those he negotiated with. In one of the talks I covered, reporters were summoned where the CAW and Ford would have a statement. Reporters were told no formal announcement was coming.
Once the event started, Hargrove said an announcement had been reached. The Ford Canadian executive clearly had been caught by surprise. But what could she do? She confirmed both sides had an accord.
In 2008, Hargrove's final year as CAW chief, the union leader had one last surprise. The Detroit automakers suffered from severe financial problems. The CAW had reached a new labor contract with Ford. A surprise announcement followed, ahead of negotiations with the other two members of the Detroit Three.
Two years ago, the UAW went on strike against all of the Detroit automakers. Things had definitely changed. Current UAW chief Shawn Fain utilized livestreams and other methods of staying in touch with union members.
