The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) condemns the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss a class action lawsuit by Black public service workers fighting systemic racism in the federal public service. The judge focused upon the certification process without addressing the substance of the plaintiffs’ case. The case sought $2.5 billion in damages for lost salaries and denied promotions, yet once again, the system has failed to deliver accountability to Black Canadians.
Anti-Black racism is deeply rooted in the public service. Black and racialized women, who make up a significant part of the workforce, continue to face discrimination, limited career advancement, and unequal treatment. This decision reinforces the deep distrust Black and racialized communities have in systems that repeatedly deny them justice.
The OFL fully supports the Black Class Action Secretariat and all affected public service workers. Their demand for compensation and the appointment of a Black equity commission is both justified and urgent. We echo the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ (CBTU) call for a mental health plan for employees who have experienced racial trauma and for immediate policy changes to ensure proper representation. The federal government must prioritize adequate Black representation at all levels of public sector employment.
It is shameful that, just weeks after Black History Month and a week before the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, these same institutions making statements about diversity and inclusion have once again failed to confront the racism entrenched within them. This is not a broken system; it is proof of a pattern, with several other class actions already alleging racial discrimination across federal departments and agencies. Justice will not be served without bold reforms. The federal government must take action to dismantle these barriers and deliver the justice long denied to Black and racialized communities.
Cope343
