Teacher's Update: Statewide Steering Council

Karla Walrod

I decided to go to the statewide Steering Council meeting because I was intrigued about what all would be involved with forming a child care center union. I had heard some talk about the family child care providers’ union, so I decided to attend the meeting to learn more about the child care center campaign and how to get involved. 

I have never been involved with a union, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was interesting to hear the family child care providers speak about their campaign to form a union, and their victory in winning their first contract with the state. I was impressed when I learned how many legislators supported the family providers’ union and it gave me hope that child care center professionals will be able to follow in their footsteps.  

I learned a lot about this campaign and got a lot of my questions about the union answered, especially about how we will make this a successful endeavor for all child care staff, teachers and directors in Washington State. I also got the chance to meet and talk with other teachers and directors from all over the state who work in all kinds of child care centers that are different from mine. It was great to see everyone there working together toward the same goals. Even though we all work at centers with different programs and philosophies, we all share many of the same challenges in our work, so it makes sense that all teachers and directors come together to make this happen for everyone.

I have been in the childcare field for 26 years and it’s nice to see that things are being accomplished and that this campaign is in motion to change child care for the better in our state. I can see nothing but good cpming of teachers and directors joining together in the union to improve the quality of child care for the kids we care for and to improve our jobs as teachers and directors. I know that this will impact all of our futures in a positive way, and I hope to see improvements in resources to centers (pay, benefits, training money, etc.) and more respect for all of us who work in child care come about through the child care center union. In order to make these things happen for all of us, we need to get involved, talk to our peers, and take action!

Karla Walrod, Lead Teacher, Wee Care Early Learning Center, Burlington