CUPE 727 representing workers in Alberni schools on Vancouver Island has welcomed StrongStart workers as new members.
The new members work in elementary schools in Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet and Bamfield. They are certified Early Childhood Educators and have considerable experience in the early child development field.
Local president Laura Johnston says that the StrongStart workers are a good fit for CUPE 727, since the local that already represents Education Assistants who work directly with students. “We are very pleased to welcome these new workers and look forward to holding an event in the near future to bring us all together,” says Johnston.
CUPE’s B.C. K-12 sector coordinator Bill Pegler says that the expansion of early care and learning opportunities as part of public schools and the public education system makes a lot of sense. “Many of our EAs have specialized certification and will welcome StrongStart. And parents and children benefit from making an early connection with the public school system,” says Pegler.
Under the StrongStart program, children engage in play based early learning opportunities with the participation of parents and caregivers.