Class action lawsuit alleging racism against Black public servants heads to court

We shall see if certified or not:

A $2.5-billion class action lawsuit brought by Black public servants claiming systemic discrimination in the federal government is set to go to court on Monday.

In Federal Court in Toronto, the plaintiffs will make their case that the government owes them damages for salaries and pensions they never received because of anti-Black racism in hiring and promotion practices.

The class action lawsuit would cover around 45,000 Black government workers and job applicants, as the alleged discrimination occurred across dozens of federal departments and agencies dating back to 1970.

“It is not only about financial compensation, but also about holding the government accountable and building a more equitable public service,” Nicholas Marcus Thompson, the lead plaintiff, wrote in an emailed statement. “The significance of this case goes beyond individual plaintiffs — this is about creating institutional reform so that future generations of Black Canadians do not face the same barriers in employment.”

The hearing, which could last up to 12 days, will determine if the lawsuit is certified, a hurdle that class actions must clear before they can go to trial. Thompson said the case was “the largest, broadest, and most high-profile employment-related discrimination case in Canadian history…

Source: Class action lawsuit alleging racism against Black public servants heads to court