On August 1st, Emancipation Day, hundreds of people gathered in the heart of our nation’s capital, honouring the legacy of freedom and justice while supporting the millions of Black public service workers across Canada that have been subjected to systemic racial discrimination in the workplace. As I spoke below the monument to a sea of union representatives representing over 3.5 million workers, I acknowledged that Emancipation Day is profoundly significant for the Black Class Action.
It is a reminder that our struggle is far from over. It is a call to action—a demand for justice that has been decades in the making. We stand on the shoulders of giants, those who fought tirelessly for the rights we now hold. And yet, the battle against systemic discrimination within our federal public service continues.
The Black Class Action is a legal and social movement initiated by Black federal employees to address systemic discrimination and racism within the Canadian public service. These brave individuals have come forward to seek justice for the barriers they have faced in hiring, promotions, and workplace treatment. I am honoured to lead this class action which aims to obtain compensation and drive systemic changes to create a more equitable working environment for all.