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.
"Buzz Hargrove was a giant in the Canadian labour movement," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "He never forgot where he came from—and he carried that working-class spirit with him into every boardroom, bargaining session, and public forum. His passion, his intellect, and his uncompromising belief in justice for working people shaped the labour movement we know today."
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. Hargrove's legacy lives on in the foundation and spirit of the union he helped shape.
Born in Bath, New Brunswick in 1944, he grew up in a family of ten children and credited his upbringing with helping to shape his social conscience.
Hargrove began his working life on the shop floor of Chrysler's Windsor Assembly Plant. From those early days making seat cushions and serving as a shop steward, he rose through the ranks of the labour movement, helping to build and lead a proudly independent Canadian union voice.
Hargrove 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.
A committed social unionist, Hargrove pushed the CAW to fight not only for better wages and working conditions, but also for broader social justice issues including public health care, retirement security, equity, and fair trade.
"Buzz showed us what it means to fight with heart and with strategy," added Payne. "He was never afraid to challenge the powerful, and he understood that real change requires both courage and collective strength. We owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he did to build a fairer Canada."
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).
"Buzz was tenacious and a great leader who inspired generations of union activists. 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," said Payne. "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."
Unifor extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to Buzz Hargrove's family, friends, and the entire labour community. Details on a celebration of his life and legacy will be shared in the coming days.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
DHL Express Canada workers ratify new agreement, move to end strike and lockout
DHL containers are transported on the tarmac at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton, Ont., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn TORONTO — Canada's largest private sector union says a three-week lockout and strike at DHL Express Canada is due to end because workers ratified a new agreement. Unifor says the four-year agreement reached with the delivery company was ratified with 72 per cent support from members. It includes a 15.75 per cent wage hike, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators. The agreement also features increases to short- and long-term disability payments, new mental-health benefits, a rise in severance and updated language around artificial intelligence, robotics and work-from-home policies. The agreement impacts more than 2,100 DHL Express Canada employees who work as truck drivers, couriers and in warehouse and clerical roles. They were locked out after midnight on June 8 and went on strike hours later. Unifor now says DHL workers will return to work after the ratification but offered no definite timeline. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. The Canadian Press
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
DHL Express Canada strike, lockout to end after workers ratify new agreement, union says
Canada's largest private sector union says a three-week lockout and strike at DHL Express Canada is due to end because workers ratified a new agreement. Unifor said Saturday that the four-year agreement reached with the delivery company was ratified with 72 per cent support from members. It includes a 15.75 per cent wage hike, pension increases for hourly workers and a new pension for owner-operators. The agreement also features increases to short- and long-term disability payments, new mental-health benefits, a rise in severance and updated language around artificial intelligence, robotics and work-from-home policies. The agreement affects more than 2,100 DHL Express Canada employees who work as truck drivers, couriers and in warehouse and clerical roles. They were locked out after midnight on June 8 and went on strike hours later.
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
B.C. billionaire's plan to take over Bay leases facing legal battle
A group of Hudson's Bay's landlords don't want to transfer more than two dozen leases to British Columbia billionaire Ruby Liu, but the department store still has a chance to get its way. The Bay, which filed for creditor protection in March, ran a process over the last several months to find buyers for leases belonging to it and Saks Canada. It agreed to sell up to 28 spaces to Liu. Three leases were transferred to her without any hiccups because they're in B.C. malls she owns, but another 25 are at properties held by a who's who of Canadian commercial real estate firms. 2:00 What will Montreal do with the vacant Hudson's Bay building? Landlords for 23 of those sites oppose the transfer. Several have said in court they've been 'very troubled' with their interactions with Liu and have had 'no productive discussions, no meaningful disclosure.' Liu insists if the court hands her the leases, landlords will warm to her and her plan to open a new department store in their properties. Story continues below advertisement While the disagreement could serve as a roadblock to the Bay closing on its agreement with Liu, lawyers not involved in the case say the retailer has another route it can take to get a deal done. That route lies in changes to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act — Canada's main insolvency law — made in 2009, said Jeff Lee, a Saskatoon-based partner at MLT Aikins LLP. The changes laid out three criteria courts must consider when asked to assign leases to a new tenant. The first is whether or not the sale has the support of the monitor, a court-appointed, independent third party which helps guide businesses through creditor protection. In the Bay's case, the monitor is Alvarez & Marsal. It has yet to reveal whether it supports the Liu deal and did not respond to requests for comment. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Before any court application is brought forward, typically the company will test that out with them,' Lee said. 'They're not going to just sort of fly in blind and hope for the best.' The second aspect for the court to mull is whether the proposed new tenant is suitable. Lee said that's determined by looking at whether they can perform the duties of the tenant and pay rent. Liu, who made her money in Chinese real estate, appears to have deep pockets, but her experience comes from being a landlord rather than a tenant. Story continues below advertisement 1:47 Nostalgic Vancouver shoppers flock to 'The Bay' on its final day The final aspect the court will consider is whether a transfer of a lease to Liu is 'appropriate.' Lee said people should think of it as asking this question: 'Is what's proposed for this post-assignment lease relationship what people signed up for, or are they seeking to rewrite the lease or change the playing field so radically that it's not appropriate?' That's where much of the tension could lie in the Bay case. 'You can't go into CCAA as a tenant and then force your landlords to renegotiate their leases as a result,' said Peter Tolensky, a Vancouver-based partner at Lawson Lundell LLP. The Canadian Press obtained a document last week that Liu's lawyer sent landlords outlining her plans. It says she will take on the leases on an 'as is, where is' basis but doesn't mention the dining, entertainment, children's and fitness experiences she's told media she'd like to include in her department stores. Story continues below advertisement It's unclear whether the leases allow for uses other than a Bay-like department store. A court faced with a request to reassign leases will weigh this context and think about whether 'the landlord's world is being turned upside down by having this new tenant,' said Geoffrey Dabbs, a B.C.-based founding partner at Gehlen Dabbs Cash. 'The more it's a minor inconvenience for the landlord, the more likely the judge will order it,' he said. While the Bay hasn't said whether it will seek an assignment, it's likely because any company in creditor protection has a duty to show the court it's doing its best to pay back companies and people it owes money to, Dabbs said. The Bay has a 26-page list of creditors, with some lenders owed more than $100 million each. 2:08 Hudson's Bay last day Liquidation sales and a deal to sell the Bay trademarks to Canadian Tire for $30 million have put a dent in what's owed but selling leases to Liu would also help. Story continues below advertisement Anyone who made an offer for leases had to make a deposit of 10 per cent of their estimated purchase price. Court documents show Liu made a deposit of $9.4 million, in addition to $6 million for the three approved leases, which would equate to a purchase price of $100 million for 28 leases. When a deal like this is reached, Dabbs said a company typically seeks landlord consent because commercial leases tend to have provisions stopping anyone from transferring a lease without a property owner agreeing. It's not uncommon for landlords to object because any leases that can't be sold and aren't assigned get turned back over to property owners who can choose how to fill them and under what terms. 'Remember, these are anchor leases, so they're probably very favourable to the Bay or to the tenant in a lot of respects,' said Tolensky, alluding to the fact that anchor tenants are often given attractive rents or terms. Thus, it's more advantageous for landlords to get their properties back, said Monica Beffa, founder of an Oakville, Ont., law firm. If they do, they can then charge higher rents, develop them for entirely new uses such as residential units or break them up into smaller parcels that can be rented by a wide array of tenants. If they don't and a court assigns the leases to Liu, landlords will likely be watching her closely to ensure she doesn't violate any terms of the agreement. Story continues below advertisement 'The landlord may be cranky, if the tenant breaches, but put it this way, they don't want to rely on that,' Dabbs said. 'If they don't want this lease being assigned, they will fight it right up front.'
