Mission & Objectives

HPAE’s Education and Training Program is based on our mission and objectives. HPAE is a democratically run labor union that is committed to the growth and empowerment of health care professionals and other health care workers. We seek to secure optimal working conditions and professional development for our members, while playing a leadership role in establishing high standards for clinical practice and a health care system that ensures quality care for all.

Our union offers a wide range of educational programs to meet these objectives. Many of our programs are so-called “union-building” trainings; they provide union representatives and local officers with the tools that they need to be effective advocates vis-à-vis health care employers. Other programs are designed to meet the needs of our members for continuing education and professional development. Finally, we offer workshops and trainings to help our members with their personal and family needs, such as retirement planning.

Click here for a list of the types of trainings provided, or for a calendar of HPAE trainings, please click here.

Another component of our educational and training program is to provide members with basic information about their rights as employees and union members. This information is made available at membership meetings and in various publications, including the Clarion and local newsletters. HPAE believes that our union can only be strong and united if our members have such knowledge.

By law, union members have certain rights. Two of the most important rights that we have are the “Weingarten Rights” to representation at a disciplinary conference and the contractual right to “just cause” discipline. In contrast, non-union employees are “at-will”; they can be disciplined, fired, or laid off without any reason and without any recourse.

Finally, HPAE’s officers, representatives, and Staff Representatives provide information and education about labor and employment laws that apply to all employees, including the Family and Leave Act (FMLA).

If you need additional information about HPAE’s Education and Training Program, email mslott@hpae.org or tleone@hpae.org.

Educational Resources for Members

• Legal Rights of Union Members - Weingarten Rights & “Just Cause” for Disciplines
• Legal Rights of Union Members - Key Federal and State Employment Laws
• HPAE “Union Building” Training Programs & Calendar
• George Meany Center - Union Skills Course Calendar