The RE Group Executive is very pleased to announce the winner of this year’s RE Group Commendation. This year’s winner is Leah Sander, a Historical Researcher from Library and Archives Canada (LAC). As a steward for over a decade, Leah Sander has consistently supported the Historical Researchers (HRs) at Library and Archives Canada through good and bad times, providing personal support and strategic help at all junctures. She works hard on behalf of her colleagues to improve individual situations and takes initiative to foster a sense of community and solidarity amongst the HRs.
Leah Sander receiving her commendation from Brian Virostek of the Library and Archives Canada Sub Group.
Her work touches directly on many of the areas for which the RE Group Commendation was created, for example:
Working conditions for government researchers – Leah has been supporting HRs at LAC since the 2012-2014 round of Workforce Adjustment, which took a terrible toll on the HRs at LAC. Since then, she has tirelessly argued for and defended the rights of HRs at many levels, from individual managers and labour relations staff to directors general and even the heads of the institution. In fact, senior management often sought out her opinion, and she was able to effectively argue PIPSC’s positions, and accordingly negotiate a better workplace for LAC’s HRs. She has been involved in the newly-reinstituted consultation committee on professional development, pushing back on the Employer’s recent “pause” of LAC’s incumbent-based career progression system. As a steward for individual members, Leah is reliable, trustworthy, empathetic, and kind. She gives freely of her own time to help members when they need it, whether it’s a one-off question or a long-term issue requiring a significant investment of time on her part.
Recruitment of PIPSC volunteers – As the face of PIPSC at LAC, Leah almost single-handedly maintained PIPSC volunteer presence at LAC, greeting new members and explaining their collective agreement, organizing regular AGMs and information sessions, serving in the local sub group, and working with PIPSC staff to get support to resolve issues as they arose. This was an ongoing challenge as several HR stewards and executives left for other classifications, requiring continual recruitment to replace them.
Scientific and research integrity – Leah fought valiantly against a muzzling Code of Conduct at LAC, rallied against the cancelling of the incumbent-based career progression, and helped to organize opposition and grievances surrounding LAC’s generic job description implementation. As a small classification within a small group, the Employer can tend to overlook or ignore HRs, arguing that they do not really have the same rights as other researchers. However, Leah made sure to raise HR concerns whenever possible, at all-staffs, team meetings, and in consultation, arguing for conference attendance rights, research integrity and the right to speak, and better communication of HR work and expertise within LAC itself.
We encourage all members to keep an eye out for a call for nominations in the coming months, and think about deserving nominees.
Congratulations again to Leah!
The RE Group Awards committee (Kathleen Emberson, Matthew MacLeod Chris Perry, Xiaolan Wang)