Our Most Recent Organizing Efforts

HPAE is committed to giving every health care professional a voice in their work place - that's why our membership has more than tripled in size since 1981.

Temple Episcopal Professionals - Philadelphia
On January 27, 2011, the social workers and behavioral health therapists who work in the behavioral health units at Temple Episcopal Hospital voted by an overwhelming majority to join with the RNs and Techs of HPAE Local 5106. The Pros lacked input into their working conditions and suffered the consequences of being passed over for pay increases for several years, having additional duties added to their job responsibilities, and being treated unprofessionally by doctors and managers, these professionals contacted HPAE for representation last year.

The Local Executive Board of President Elizabeth Nulty, Vice President for the Technical Unit Gary Peoples, Grievance Chair Sue Clements, and Secretary-Treasurer Carol Henderson actively embraced the professionals organizing drive from the beginning by attending meetings, demanding recognition from the employer, and gathering 95% of the members’ signatures on a support petition ahead of the vote.

Congratulations to all the HPAE members of Local 5106. Welcome to our Union!


Memorial Hospital of Salem County
By a wide margin of 73-48, nurses working at Memorial Hospital of Salem County won their union today, December 14, three months after the RNs voted on whether or not to join NJ’s largest nursing union, the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE/AFT/AFL-CIO). The opening of the ballots was delayed by continued appeals to the election by CHS, the corporate owner of Memorial Hospital. CHS repeatedly lost their appeals before the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees union elections.

The union victory ended the first phase of a difficult contest between 140 Registered Nurses and Memorial Hospital, owned by CHS, a large national hospital chain.

“The nurses spoke loud and clear, for their right to speak up for their patients and their profession,” said Linda Serata.”It is past time that CHS and hospital management sat down to negotiate a fair contract that offers respect and fairness to the RNs working here, rather than continue expensive legal delays and objections to our rights.”

Nurses filed to hold an election in May, but were initially blocked by CHS objections. CHS had claimed that a substantial number of the RNs were supervisors, and ineligible to vote. The NLRB ruled against CHS in August, and the election was held in September.

Nurses at Memorial Hospital become the newest members of HPAE, a 12,000 member healthcare union that also represents nurses at Virtua Memorial, Cooper Hospital, and South Jersey Healthcare in Vineland, Bridgeton and Elmer.