“CAAT Tales: Heard Loud and Local”
From grievances to game shows, bargaining to member spotlights—this is your SLC Faculty Local 417 in stereo. Tune in for empowering stories, urgent updates, and the voices of the people who’ve got your back.
S2E35: CAAT Tales: Surveys, Policies and Requirements, Oh My!
In this episode of CAAT Tales, Julie breaks down the September 29 "Integration Engagement" email and what it really means for faculty and support staff at St. Lawrence College. Local 417 President Gillian Axten and Local 418 Support President Amanda Shaw unpack the survey, the lack of transparency, and the growing precarity facing workers during the SLC–Fleming integration.
This episode also tackles two major faculty responsibilities at St. Lawrence College: conflict of interest (COI) disclosure and maintaining professional currency under AC407. Julie sits down with Local 417 President Gillian Axten and Lead Steward John Holmes to break down what counts as outside work, when disclosure is required, and how faculty can navigate the overlap between real‑world practice and college policy.
Then, in our Steward Profile series, we meet Owais Aziz, whose journey from student activism to disaster‑relief medicine to teaching at SLC reveals a life shaped by courage, community, and deep commitment to collective care.
Plus: the latest 411 on 417, including a fall GMM save‑the‑date and a reminder to complete the faculty demand‑set survey.
Links of Interest:
Send your thoughts on the college merger to: integration@sl.on.ca (mailto:integration@sl.on.ca)
Fill out the college's survey: https://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/integration (https://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/integration)
AC 407 (https://364599a3-cdn.agilitycms.cloud/Attachments/6-about/reports-policies/reports-and-policies/academic-policy/AC407%20Faculty%20Academic%20Professional%20Credential%20Requirements%20%20September%202026.pdf)
FT/PL Demand Set Survey (https://364599a3-cdn.agilitycms.cloud/Attachments/6-about/reports-policies/reports-and-policies/academic-policy/AC407%20Faculty%20Academic%20Professional%20Credential%20Requirements%20%20September%202026.pdf) (PT and SL are welcome to complete it too!)
23 Sept 2026
S2E34: CAAT Tales: Coordinated Bargaining 101 and Why Your SWF Matters
In this episode, we site down with Ben McCarthy (Part-Time Academic Lead Steward, OPSEU Local 556) to unpack the growing movement toward coordinated bargaining across Ontario's 24 public colleges -- why the silos are cracking, what's shifting at the bargaining table, and how the rank-and-file members can strengthen this sector-wide strategy.
Later in the episode, Julie is joined by Local 417 President Gillian Axten and Lead Steward John Holmes for a deep dive into Winter SWF season: evaluation factors, overtime traps, cross-campus assignments, and what faculty need to watch as the draft SWFs roll out.
Links of interest: CAAT-A Collective Agreement (https://slcfaculty.ca/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/2026/02/2024_Academic_Collective_Agreement__EN_Signed.pdf)
Connect with a Steward here (https://417.virtualsteward.ca/inquiries)
22 Sept 2026
S2E33:CAAT Tales Special Episode: Answering Merger-Related Questions
“We’ve been stuck in a stalemate… fighting to get a seat at the table.”
“There is obviously an ongoing theme that we don’t know some things yet.”
This special edition of CAAT Tales brings together all four OPSEU Local Presidents from St. Lawrence College and Fleming College to respond directly to the questions raised during the historic Sept. 10 joint town hall — a gathering that drew hundreds of faculty and support staff across both institutions.
With the proposed April 1, 2027 merger looming, and with workers still shut out of planning discussions, this episode offers the clearest picture yet of what the presidents know, what they don’t, and what they’re fighting for.
Featuring:
Marcia Steeves, Local 351 (Support – SLC)
Amanda Shaw, Local 418 (Support – SLC)
Michael Benedict, Local 352 (Academic – SLC)
Gillian Axten, Local 417 (Academic – Fleming)
Together, they tackle your questions about OPSEU’s role, legal challenges, employment stability, program futures, political pressure, and how members can stay informed in a rapidly shifting landscape.
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