Nearly 600 delegates attending PSAC’s 2024 National Triennial Convention elect new national leadership as the union braces for major fights to protect the rights of workers in the years ahead.  

Members elected Sharon DeSousa as National President, and Alex Silas as National Executive Vice-President (NEVP). DeSousa is the first racialized national president in PSAC’s history. She was also the first racialized National Executive Vice-President, a position she held from 2020 to 2024. She previously served as PSAC Ontario’s Regional Executive Vice-President from 2011 to 2020.   

“I am honoured by the support and confidence members have placed in me to lead our union through the challenges ahead,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President-elect. “Our solidarity makes us stronger, and we will need to be more united and resilient than ever before as we fight to uphold justice and the rights of workers so that every member, in every corner of the country, is treated with dignity and respect.” 

The union represents more than 245,000 workers across Canada – including federal public service workers, provincial, territorial and municipal workers, as well as post-secondary education, law enforcement, public safety workers and many more.  

PSAC is ramping up for several major showdowns with the federal government as more than 9,000 Canada Border Services Agency personnel head towards potential strike action, and a fight looms over the future of telework for federal workers.  

Silas is the first young worker and member of a Directly Chartered Local to be elected to PSAC’s national executive. Since 2020, he served as Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. He has been a PSAC member since 2010 when he was hired at the Bank of Canada as a security officer.

“It has been a privilege to serve PSAC members in the NCR, and I am humbled that members have now put their faith in me as I take on this new role to represent our diverse membership coast-to-coast-to-coast,” said Silas, National Executive Vice-President-elect. “Together, we will organize, fight for workers’ rights, and defend those whose voices need to be heard.” 

Delegates also elected Craig Reynolds, REVP for Ontario, as Alternate National Executive Vice-President.  

PSAC’s national elected officers will serve a three-year term from 2024 to 2027 and head the union’s National Board of Directors and Alliance Executive Committee.