We received a press release today from OPSEU/SEFPO Locals 417 and 418, the unions representing faculty and support staff at St. Lawrence College (SLC), sounding the alarm over what they call a severe lack of transparency regarding the college’s impending merger with Fleming College.
The core issue centers on a massive discrepancy in how the college’s future is being presented to staff versus what is legally documented in its financial statements.
According to the press release issued today (July 17, 2026), the union locals state that the administration’s recently published business plan “ignores the intended dissolution of the college March 31, 2027”. Yet, they point out that the college’s own audited financial statements explicitly declare: “It is expected that the College will be dissolved once its assets are transferred into a new College.”
This contradiction has shattered trust between the workforce and the administration. The union argues that the administration is forcing staff to build and plan systems for a “business as usual” future, while quietly preparing to dissolve the institution entirely.
“The fact the college doesn’t have planning for a merger as a goal — let alone its primary goal — for this fiscal year is mind boggling,” said Gillian Axten, President of SLC faculty Local 417.
Amanda Shaw, President of Local 418 representing support staff, echoed this frustration, noting that the business plan outlines multi‑year digital transformation projects as if SLC will continue independently.
“Our members deserve honesty about what systems will change, what jobs will change, and what workload impacts are coming,” Shaw stated. “Support staff are already carrying the uncertainty of this merger, and the business plan only adds to it.”
The Road to Integration
The tension between the unions and the administration has been escalating since the surprise announcement of the merger on April 10, 2026. Driven by massive financial shortfalls caused by the federal government’s cap on international students, St. Lawrence and Peterborough-based Fleming College agreed to integrate as “equal partners” to improve long-term financial sustainability.
The public messaging from the administration has heavily emphasized continuity. The “New College” will retain the existing campus footprints across both regions, and students will continue to graduate under their home college’s brand.
Current SLC President Glenn Vollebregt, who will serve as the initial President and CEO of the combined institution, recently defended the merger. “We are committed to ensuring that students have the tools, programs, and support they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy,” Vollebregt said. “This integration gives us the scale and capability to serve more students, offer more opportunity, and build a stronger institution for the long term”.
However, the unions argue that “getting bigger” on paper is masking the severe cuts happening on the ground. On April 30, 2026, just weeks after the merger announcement, SLC issued layoff notices to 28 full-time faculty members and involuntarily transferred 16 others. The college also suspended 55 programs and reduced its Brockville and Cornwall campuses to “learning centres”.
Demands for Transparency
Locals 417 and 418 are now demanding immediate action and accountability from the SLC leadership. Their press release calls for the immediate release of:
- All materials provided to the Board of Governors regarding the merger.
- Any analysis of impacts on faculty, support staff, and students.
- A clear explanation of why the business plan omits the dissolution.
- A timeline and framework for meaningful engagement with workers.
The unions claim repeated requests for this information have gone unanswered.
“Belonging is a key value touted by administration. It must be more than branding,” Axten concluded in the release. “It must be reflected in how decisions are made — and who is invited into the room.”
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