The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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RE Group Strategy Document

Mission

Protect the integrity of unbiased research in the public interest, evidence-based decision making and innovation based in science, through collective bargaining and defending members’ rights.

Core Roles

  • Collective bargaining
  • Consultation at the group level
  • Education
    • Support the subgroups, link them to PIPSC
    • Newsletter and communications - more than just info sharing
  • Create solutions for members through Sub-Groups
    • Map the system in an RE-centric way
  • Mobilization of the membership
  • Hosting the AGM - member input to Executive
  • Prioritization of issues
  • Recruitment - sign up of new members, focus on where we have done well
  • Protect and safeguard scientific integrity

Adjacent Roles

  • Liaise with Allied organizations
  • Stewarding, steward development
  • Advocacy and education
    • Within PIPSC
    • Outside (I.B., MPs, Public)
  • Support other groups (Unions in campaigns)
  • Mobilization – rallies
  • Mentoring

Aspirational Roles

  • Provide an advisory role to Canadians and the Federal Government
    • (e.g. have a voice in selecting and mentoring Chief Science Officer)
  • Provide feedback & science implications on policy
  • Promote science-savvy upper management in science departments
  • Replace ‘science’ with ‘research’ in the integrity conversation
  • Improved ability to advocate on the need for government research
  • Establish an open-sourced journal to valorize government research (e.g. “Evidence”)
  • To be a central resource for big issues for Government researchers
  • Improve membership pride and morale
  • Orient new members

Roles we do NOT play

  • Anything that would compromise our integrity
  • Engage in conflicts of interest
  • Speak outside of our area of expertise
  • Public Policy - yes and no
    • Questions of labour policy - yes
    • Questions of specific evidence-based decisions - no

Guiding Principles

  • We believe that a persistent, long-term focus is key to protecting the integrity of public research
  • We believe research can provide useful guidance to serve Canada
  • We believe our members must be able to do their jobs without interference

Goals

The RE Group has long-term goals in three broad areas:

Strong Membership: our members will be engaged, connected, and informed.  They have the support they require from PIPSC, and they trust and support RE Group officials.

Strong Research: our members are research-first, enabled by a Government that hires, retains, develops and rewards members whose work is of the highest quality. They work in a healthy and productive, research-friendly environment.

Strong Decision-making: our members, in conjunction with the broader public service, have the capacity to generate evidence required for decision-making. The public understands the importance and impact of our research, as does a research savvy management cadre and Employer. We operate in an environment free of inappropriate tampering, protected by our collective agreement.