‘Giant’ in labour movement in Ontario and Canada dead at 81

Buzz Hargrove, an iconic yet deeply controversial figure in Canada’s labour movement, is dead at 81.

“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.”

Hargrove began his working life on the shop floor of Chrysler’s Windsor assembly plant making seat cushions and serving as a shop steward and rose through the ranks of the labour movement to succeed Bob White as union president in 1992.

He served in the role until 2008, and not without a large helping of controversy along the way.

Hargrove began advocating for ‘tactical voting’ in 1999 – marking the union’s first major break with the NDP. He helped get Prime Minister Paul Martin and NDP leader Jack Layton together in the spring of 2005 to get a budget approved but criticized Layton later that year and supported Conservative leader Stephen Harper and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Ducette in bringing down the Liberal government.

His actions sparked anger among many union members who would distribute “Buzz Off. I’m voting NDP” buttons at rallies and Sid Ryan would blame his loss in Oshawa Riding in the subsequent 2006 election on Hargrove’s support of the Liberals.

He was suspended by the NDP that year, with the CAW then severing official ties with the party.

AG Simpson plant, Oshawa

Hargrove also criticized workers at Oshawa auto parts maker AG Simpson when they went on strike, calling it a “wildcat strike.”

He was elected to his final two-year term in 2006.

Payne said Hargrove’s legacy will live on in the “foundation and spirit” of the union he helped shape, calling him a “tireless advocate for working people and a deeply respected leader whose impact will be felt for generations.”

“Buzz showed us what it means to fight with heart and with strategy,” she said. “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.”

Unifor President Lana Payne

Hargrove played a central role in the union’s historic break from the United Auto Workers in the U.S. in 1985 and the creation of an autonomous Canadian union and as president he led negotiations with major employers – including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada, and CN Rail – to secure 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, Payne said.

“Buzz was tenacious and a great leader who inspired generations of union activists,” she added. “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.”

Hargrove, who was born in Bath, New Brunswick in 1944, 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).

He also co-authored the book Labour of Love: The Fight to Create a More Humane Canada with Wayne Skene in 1998.

“Our union has lost an extraordinary champion, Payne said. “His memory will live on in the work we do every day to fight for justice, fairness, and dignity for all workers.”