Focusing on blame and punishment solves nothing. It can only discourage reporting and drive errors underground. It not only undermines patient safety; it fosters an environment of fear and lack of respect for health care workers.

WSNA, SEIU Healthcare 1199NW and UFCW 3000 filed for a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent MultiCare Health System from garnishing wages without employees’ consent.

Today the WA Safe + Healthy coalition released a joint statement on the state Senate failing to pass safe staffing standards for healthcare workers.

We call on employers to clarify their policies, and we call on the state to ensure workers cannot be forced to return while sick, or disciplined for refusing to work while symptomatic with COVID.

Today a coalition of healthcare workers launched the WA Safe + Healthy campaign calling on Washington legislators to pass safe staffing standards that protect healthcare workers from dangerously high patient loads.

Following the 11th bargaining session with St. Joseph’s Medical Center, nurses represented by the Washington State Nurses Association are launching a strike petition, the first step towards a potential strike if a contract cannot be reached.

WSNA stands with 32,000 nurses and health professionals including members of our AFT-affiliated nurses at Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals who intend to begin their strike at Kaiser Permanente locations in Washington, Oregon and California starting November 15.

Hundreds of nurses, patients and community leaders gathered outside St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma on Nov. 3 to demand the hospital improve conditions so nurses can provide safe, high-quality care to every patient.

Nurses and other frontline workers are calling on hospitals to use the tools and resources they have available to finally begin mitigating this crisis for workers and patients.

As unions repre­senting nurses and health care workers in Washington state, WSNA, SEIU Health­care 1199NW and UFCW21 support science-based public health direc­tives on COVID-19 vacci­na­tion require­ments for front­line health care workers, with medical and religious exemp­tions.