PSAC suspends former UNE president Alisha Kang's membership for five years

Canada's largest federal public service union has suspended the membership of Alisha Kang, the former president of the Union of National Employees, for five years, according to an internal email obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced the suspension on August 7 through Dominic Lavoie, a vice-president with PSAC's national executive, who told UNE staff that the decision came "following a complaint and investigation" by PSAC's national board of directors. The source material does not specify what complaint or complaints led to the investigation or suspension decision.

UNE represents about 27,000 workers and is one of 15 components of PSAC. Last October, PSAC's board took the drastic move of placing the UNE under a trusteeship—giving the larger union control of the smaller one. In a letter to Kang at that time, PSAC president Sharon DeSousa cited complaints about "a lack of support, response and representation by UNE," as well as "significant staff turnover." Kang was removed from her position as president, and Lavoie is now serving as trustee administrator.

In the months leading up to the trusteeship, the union struggled to represent members who had filed complaints with the federal labour board against the government. Labour relations officers—who help workers with grievances filed against their employers—began departing the UNE in early 2025. By April, only two active labour relations officers remained, down from eight.

After her ouster, Kang filed an application at the Superior Court of Justice seeking to roll back PSAC's trusteeship decision. She also filed a complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, alleging PSAC discriminated against her based on race, ancestry and gender identity. The tribunal later dismissed her complaint as abandoned. The source material does not indicate the current status of her Superior Court application.

Lavoie's email stated that Kang's "membership status will be revisited in 5 years" and instructed UNE staff to report any contact from her. PSAC declined to comment and refused to answer questions about the suspension or its length. In recent days, PSAC also placed another component, the Yukon Employees' Union, under trusteeship.