Sauer has been a union activist and outspoken advocate for health care workers for over 35 years, starting out as a steward in her workplace before going on to hold many roles in the union, including being on the SGEU Provincial Council for 19 years and on SGEU’s Administrative Committee as the NUPGE Vice-President for five years. She comes from SGEU’s Health Sector and has served for the past two years as the Health Sector Chair and the Health Providers Bargaining Unit Chair. She also spent many years on the Health Providers Negotiating Committee and is a graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program.