E3 - CAAT Tales: Strategy, Stewardship & The Collective Good with Gillian

In this episode of CAAT Tales, we sit down with Gillian Axten, the Lead Steward for Local 417 and a self-described person who runs on "chaos" and "copious amounts of coffee". Gillian takes us through her journey from working as a guidance counselor and psychotherapist to becoming a fixture at St. Lawrence College—a career move she jokingly attributes entirely to her mother’s influence.We delve into the "less sexy" but vital backend work of the union. Gillian explains her role as a big-picture strategic planner, detailing her work on the provincial constitution committee and the complex "competitive Sudoku" of scheduling arbitrations. She also shares the story behind the seminal Kingston grievance, a major victory that secured full-time positions across the province, and discusses the strategy behind filing mass grievances to effect change.Whether she is coaching football, teaching mental health resilience to paramedics, or planning her sabbatical, Jillian’s focus remains on the "collective good". She offers candid advice for aspiring stewards and explains why having an "exit strategy" is actually an act of solidarity for younger faculty.In This Episode, We Cover:• The Counselor Who Teaches: How Gillian transitioned from counseling in high schools to teaching mental health and addiction at the college, while maintaining her identity as a counselor first.• Strategic Stewardship: Insight into the role of a Lead Steward, including policy grievances, the constitution committee, and the disability caucus.• Historic Wins: A look back at the "Kingston grievance" that changed the provincial landscape for staffing and the strategy behind the mass filing of 80 grievances in 2017.• The Collective Mindset: Jillian’s philosophy on union work, balancing individual needs with the collective good, and the importance of self-care and exit strategies.• Know Your Rights: A breakdown of teaching contact hours (maximum 18 per week) and the new increase in complimentary functions to 7 hours effective January 1st.Links & Resources:• Visit us: slcfaculty.ca• Subscribe: Wherever you get your podcastsMusic clearance: NPXY0YQVYZIJHMOW