The AECEO team is excited to introduce our new resource! In Unions 101, you will find essential information about labour unions, workers' rights to unionize and why unions matter to the early learning and child care sector. Click here to access this resource!
This resource was created by the AECEO team to accompany a number of Circle Time episodes that will go into the topic of unions and the ELCC sector. As of July 4th, 2025, two episodes of our three-part series on unionization have been released. Stay tuned for part III!
Why is the AECEO talking about unionization?
In light of recent requests and inquiries about unionization, and a number of concerning situations disclosed to our staff team, the AECEO has created resources to support our members and the ECE community learn about this topic. Here is the full list:
- Unions 101, a PDF document containing essential information about labour unions, workers' rights to unionize and why unions matter to the early learning and child care sector;
- Episode 6 of Circle Time, where members of our staff share about their experience unionizing the AECEO;
- Episode 7 of Circle Time, where Alana shares about her experience with the unionization process as the executive director of the AECEO;
- Episode 8 of Circle Time, featuring a chat with Christina Gilligan, Coordinator for Child Care at CUPE, so you can learn more about what unions are, how they support workers in their workplaces, and how unions work together with organizations like the AECEO to advocate for professional pay and decent work for everyone working in early learning and child care.
As your professional association, our work is focused on bringing the community together to advocate for public policies and funding that ensure licensed programs are able to provide decent work and professional pay for their staff.
This work includes highlighting great practices currently happening in the sector. Through our publications, like position papers, program profiles and policy briefs, the AECEO documents theses practices and brings forward policy recommendations to the provincial government to advocate for their expansion.
This work also includes responding to the challenges working ECEs bring to our attention by offering information and support where we can. We hope these resources support ECEs in understanding their rights, and exploring options that may address their workplace situations that are beyond the scope of the support the AECEO can provide directly.