Buzz Hargrove

Buzz Hargrove, the popular national president of the CAW from 1992 to 2008, recently stepped down from the position after serving three terms.

As a Windsor autoworker, Buzz held several in-plant and local executive positions at Local 444 before being appointed to the union's staff in 1975. Three years later, in 1978, Buzz became the assistant to then UAW-Canada Director Bob White. As such, he was also part of the leadership team that broke away from the UAW to found the Canadian union in 1985.

He has extensive bargaining experience, having negotiated with major corporations such as General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Air Canada, Bombardier, Alcan, CN Rail and others. Buzz has a great understanding of and commitment to the economic, social and political issues affecting working people and their families in Canada and around the world. Across the country, Buzz is known as the foremost advocate for working people.
During his years as president, Buzz's action-oriented leadership style has led him to be a regular guest on numerous television and radio programs and a frequently requested lecturer at universities across the country.

Buzz authored an autobiography entitled Labour of Love: the Fight to Create a More Humane Canada, with Wayne Skene, published by MacFarlane, Walter & Ross in November 1998. His latest book, Laying On The Line, was published in October 2009. The book explains the crisis from Hargrove's side of the table, what it means for Canada and how the manufacturing sector can again become this country's foremost economic driver.

In recognition of his many contributions to society, Brock University honoured him with a Doctorate of Laws degree in 1998. As well, Hargrove has received honourary doctorates from the University of Windsor in 2003, Wilfred Laurier University in 2004 and Ryerson University in 2006. He is the co-host of BNN's Buzz Cuts, was recently appointed as Ombudsman to the National Hockey League Player's Association (NHLPA) and is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University in the Ted Rogers School of Business offering a critical labour perspective on social, economical and political issues to undergraduate, graduate and MBA students. He was also named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.

• Topics

  Why would a union leader speak about the state of Canada's political, economic and social affairs? Why would he train his gaze beyond his presumed area of expertise - the labour movement? The short answer is that he is gravely concerned about the direction in which his country is heading, and he'd like to spark broad debate about whether it's changing for the better or the worse.
  
  Buzz Hargrove communicates his concerns from his perspective as a trade unionist and a politically active citizen. The labour movement is not an alien, self-interested force, existing outside the mainstream of society, as some in the media like to depict it. It's members are not merely "workers". They send their kids to schools and universities. They line up to vote. They feel, like other Canadians, the impact of the governments' increasingly right-wing political agendas. They see first-hand the hold that corporations have gained over the country's political leadership.
  
  Buzz Hargrove is speaking out because he fears that corporate interests are eroding the very basis of democracy in this country, and he's not sure most Canadians understand just how far down this road we've already travelled.
  
  Whether speaking about the political, economic or social issues, or specifically about the labour movement, leadership or negotiation strategies, Buzz Hargrove is certain to provide his audiences with some laughs, some ideas to ponder, and lots of food for thought.

• “Buzz Hargrove has an unparalleled understanding of the economic, social and political issues affecting working people and their families in Canada and around the world.”
  Jim Gifford, HarperCollinsCanada

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