Canada's largest public service union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), is in turmoil after the resignations of two senior leaders over the handling of allegations of anti-Black racism.  
PSAC national executive vice-president Magali Picard resigned from her elected position on Sept. 16, a week after Amarkai Laryea stepped down from his management position as acting director of the representation and legal services branch. 

No one wins'

Nicholas Thompson, who hosted the Union Matters Facebook event, said employees of the federal public service represented by PSAC — particularly Black, Indigenous and racialized workers — have been alarmed to see their own union struggle as an employer to recognize and address systemic racism within its own organization.  

"I think it's a sad day for labour," said Thompson about the two resignations. 
"We're still facing these issues, and two racialized workers are the casualty, so I don't consider this a victory."

Thompson said marginalized groups in the federal public service are counting on their union to learn from this so it can address the very same problems faced by the workers it represents in the public service who in turn serve all Canadians. 
"We can't get a better workplace that is representative if our own union doesn't get its act together with regards to systemic racism and systemic barriers."

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