We know from the experience of many members, including those involved in the Black and Indigenous class action lawsuits, that workers from equity groups consistently get left behind. Collective bargaining is one of our best tools to create fair work environments for all employees. That’s why we need to make sure our demands explicitly focus on equity, especially given the broader context of systemic discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation and other identities.  

In this round of negotiations for federal public service workers, PSAC is working to do just that, including: 

• Introducing more gender-neutral and gender-inclusive language.  

• Stronger protections against violence, harassment and discrimination in our workplaces 

• Mandatory training on anti-racism, anti-oppression and Indigenous history for all federal workers 

• Bilingual allowances for Indigenous languages 

• Leave for Indigenous cultural practices 

• A seat at the table at the Centre for Diversity and Inclusion to help improve representation from equity-seeking groups in the federal public service. 

More broadly, as part of PSAC’s Anti-Racism Action Plan, PSAC is reaching out to members across the country to hear about their experiences and how we as an organization can better represent our diverse membership. Our Gender Equity Taskforce is also using an intersectional approach to explore barriers to women’s participation in union life, including bargaining processes, and to improve gender equity within PSAC.