Basil “Buzz” Hargrove, the former head of Canada’s auto workers union who led historic contract negotiations and helped create the country’s largest private sector union, has died.
Hargrove served as national president of the Canadian Auto Workers from 1992 to 2008 and played a key role in the union’s break from its American counterpart in 1985 to form an independent Canadian organization.
“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.”
The CAW merged with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union in 2013 to form Unifor, which now represents 320,000 workers across Canada.
From shop floor to union leadership
Born in Bath, New Brunswick in 1944, Hargrove grew up in a family of 10 children and started his career making seat cushions at Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly Plant. He worked his way up from shop steward through union ranks.
As CAW president, Hargrove led contract talks with major employers including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada and CN Rail. His negotiations secured wage increases and benefit improvements that set standards across multiple industries.
Beyond workplace issues, Hargrove pushed the union to advocate for broader social causes including public health care, retirement security and fair trade policies.
“Buzz showed us what it means to fight with heart and with strategy,” said Payne. “He was never afraid to challenge the powerful, and he understood that real change requires both courage and collective strength.”
Recognition and later career
Hargrove received several honorary doctorates from Canadian universities and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008. After retiring from the CAW, he became director of The Centre for Labour Management Relations at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management.
“Buzz was tenacious and a great leader who inspired generations of union activists,” said Payne. “As National President of Unifor I was one of the many who benefitted from his legacy and his friendship.”
Unifor said details about a celebration of Hargrove’s life will be announced in coming days.
The union’s announcement did not include Hargrove’s age at death or cause of death.
