Join an Upcoming Labor Education Training!

Welcome to NYSNA's Labor Education page! Labor Education is education and training that teaches union members to think critically and to take action in the workplace, to build collective power and use that power for nurses, patients, and social justice.  

We use a method called Popular Education which recognizes that our members enter the learning space with important experience, skills and knowledge. In our trainings participants build on that knowledge with new information, analysis, and an opportunity to practice skills in a supportive environment before applying them in the workplace. Popular Education also strives to create a learning environment that is democratic and challenges existing inequities so that all feel equally welcome to participate 

Trainings are in-person or on Zoom. They can be 30 minutes long, or run all day, or anything in-between. We can schedule them at times that work best for your members. 

In addition to the course listings below, here is a list of additional topics and workshops we can offer.

We are also available to develop new trainings or tailor existing trainings to support the needs of nurse members and staff. Contact us at labored@nysna.org for more information and to start planning your educational program! 

Please check back often, as we are always planning new workshops and trainings.

 

 

Help train more member leaders at your hospital! 

 

1. Member Leadership Trainings


The Leadership Training has long been a resource for our members who want to build union power, advocate for their patients, and make positive changes in their workplace. Click here for further details about the goals and purpose of the program. In addition to the trainings below, which are open to all members of the union, we are able to provide tailored trainings, specific to your facility’s needs and availability. Contact labored@nysna.org for information about specialized trainings.

NYSNA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation and the International Accreditors of Continuing Education and Training. Each part of the Leadership Training program has been awarded 3.0 CHs/0.3 CEUs. In order to receive CHs/CEUs, all participants are required to attend the entire program, complete all assignments, complete an evaluation and post-program test.

  • Leadership Training Part 1: The Responsibilities of Leaders to Advocate for Themselves and Their Patients
  • Leadership Training Part 2: Using Representational Rights Under Law and the Contract to Improve Working Conditions
  • Leadership Training Part 3: Organizing for Collective Advocacy to Build Unity and Engage the Healthcare Worker Community
  • Leadership Training Part 4: Advocating for Healthcare Workers’ and Patients’ Needs Through Effective Campaigns and Contractual Committees

    2024 TRAININGS DATES | Register here | Flyer

  • SPRING series
    Four-part NLT series on Zoom on Tuesdays: April 16, April 23, April 30 and May 7 - all trainings are 9:00 am - 12:30 pm 
  • FALL series
    Four-part NLT series on Zoom on Wednesdays: Nov 13, Nov 20, Dec 4 and Dec 11 - all trainings are 9:00 am - 12:30 pm 

If you are interested in setting up an educational session in your hospital, please contact NYSNA Labor Education at labored@nysna.org.

2. Standard Trainings Offered by the Labor Education Department 

Here is a description of each session. All sessions are 90 minutes via Zoom. These sessions are interactive practice based. Below is the 2024/2025 schedule of trainings. | Register here | Flyer

Know Your Rights: Organizing, Representation and Contract Enforcement

  • Wed 3/27 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Tues 6/18 9:30 am - 11:00 am
  • Sat 11/16 10:00 am - 11:30 am

New Officer Training

  • Sat 4/6 10:00 am - 11:30 am
  • Thurs 7/18 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Tues 12/10 9:30 am - 11:00 am

Staffing Enforcement: Collecting Protests of Assignments

  • Fri 4/26 9:30 am - 11:00 am
  • Tues 7/30 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Sat 12/7 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Learning How to Mobilize Members for Union Events and Actions

  • Sat 5/11 10:00 am - 11:30 am
  • Wed 8/14 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Tues 1/14/25 9:30 am - 11:00 am

Welcome to Your Union: All Members and Convention Delegates

  • Thurs 6/6 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
  • Sat 9/28 10:00 am - 11:30 am
  • Mon 2/3/25 9:30 am - 11:00 am

Taking Control of Our Meetings with Management

  • Tues 7/9 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm  
  • Wed 10/9 9:30 am - 11:00 am   
  • Sat 3/8/25 10:00 am - 11:30 am

 

Contract Action Team and Leadership Training

These trainings are intended to support bargaining across New York State. In these trainings members will:

  • Learn tools to engage your co-workers, throughout your facility, to get them involved;
  • Learn to prioritize the units you should spend more time on;
  • Identify leaders;
  • Help build the CAT and win a strong contract!  

These trainings are offered on Zoom - you can view the flyer here. We can also offer them in-person, in your facility. Please contact us at labored@nysna.org if you wish to discuss in-person training opportunities.

More information

The series is set up in two sections: Overview and General Skill Building.

Overview Sessions cover:

  • What is involved in building a contract campaign: from the elements of a well-organized workplace to escalating actions that engage more and more members.
  • Roles & responsibilities of the Contract Action Team: how the CAT is key to building member power and being a bridge between the members and the bargaining table.

Four General Skills sessions: 

  • Mobilizing members through organizing conversations 
  • Rounding to build the contract campaign 
  • Evaluating our collective strength through mapping
  • Using texting tools and social media to build the contract campaign

Please check back for future dates of CAT trainings or contact labored@nysna.org to schedule session at your facility.

Racial Justice Workshops

NYSNA has developed a racial justice curriculum, which we are offering to our member leaders. The goal is for participants to acquire a common framework and to learn the historical context that led to today’s deep inequities and racial disparities in health outcomes of our patients and our communities. As a union committed to social movement and transformation, this is an exciting opportunity, through education and information-sharing, to collectively explore our experiences and build solidarity.

 Please check back for more dates in 2023!

For questions, please contact labored@nysna.org.

ZOOM Trainings

Learn to handle common audio problems and how to be a participant (raise your hand, mute, use participant list, and chat). Please contact the NYSNA Labor Education department for questions and if you would like to schedule a training: labored@nysna.org.