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Unions file for temporary restraining order against MultiCare

Press release

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

March 15, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Major wins of the 2022 session

The Legislature adjourned Sine Die yesterday, March 10, marking the end of the 2022 Washington State Legislative session. Stay tuned for a full end of session report next, but until then, take a look at some of the major wins of the 2022 session.

March 11, 2022

Statement from safe staffing coalition on HB 1868

Press release Statement

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

March 8, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 8

Yesterday, the Legislature reached the final cutoff for policy bills. All bills that did not make it past this deadline and are not necessary to implement the budget are no longer viable. Unfortunately, WSNA's number one priority, safe staffing legislation, didn't make it past this week's deadlines.

March 5, 2022

The Senate failed us, but we’re not done

The Senate Ways and Means Committee did not pass our safe staffing bill out of committee by the deadline, meaning HB 1868 is very unlikely to pass this legislative cycle. We are deeply disappointed, but this is a delay, not defeat.

March 4, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 7

Both legislative budgets were released this week on Monday. We were excited to see funding for WSNA priorities, including school nurse funding, sexual assault nurse examiner training and workforce development. The Legislature also reached the second policy cutoff of the year on Thursday.

February 25, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 6

On Monday, the Legislature reached the house of origin cutoff. Most of our priority bills made is past this crucial deadline. Because most of our bills started in the House, we will now be working on moving those bills through the Senate.

February 18, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 5

On Monday, the Legislature reached fiscal cut off for the house of origin. The rest of the week was spent on the Legislature caucusing and voting bills off the House and Senate floors. We are expecting the safe staffing bill to be voted on by the house any day now.

February 11, 2022

Nominate an outstanding local unit leader for 2022 Local Unit Awards

The WSNA Cabinet on Economic and General Welfare is proud to announce the Local Unit Awards to be presented during the 2022 Leadership Conference on April 24 - 26. Please nominate someone that you feel has done an outstanding job as a local unit leader.

February 7, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 4

The Legis­la­ture reached major milestone this week. Thursday was the cutoff for policy bills in their house of origin. This means that no new bills will be intro­duced this session unless they are neces­sary to imple­ment the budget.

February 4, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 3

This week the House Labor Committee took executive action on the safe staffing bill, HB 1868. The Senate Labor Committee heard testimony from two WSNA nurses on a bill that would provide COVID-19 hazard pay to hospital-based health care workers. The first cutoff of session is next week on Feb. 3.

January 28, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 2

This week the House Labor Committee heard the safe staffing bill, HB 1868. Check out the WSNA members who testified in support of the bill.

January 21, 2022

'We can't keep doing this'

WSNA nurses share firsthand accounts of understaffing from the front lines.

January 17, 2022

Taking on the nurse staffing crisis

The public is becoming increasingly aware of a problem nurses have known about for a long time: the nurse staffing crisis that is dangerously depleting our hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic has both highlighted and accentuated this crisis.

January 17, 2022

Standing together for real staffing solutions

WSNA and the other two primary health care unions in Washington state call for a sustain­able, account­able commit­ment to safe staffing in every depart­ment of every hospital in the state.

January 17, 2022

Union solidarity and perseverance win fair contracts

WSNA members are raising their voices and standing together to win the contracts they deserve. Congratulations to these local units who recently won at the bargaining table (as of November 2021).

January 17, 2022

Meet David Keepnews

David Keepnews has a long track record and distinguished career as a nurse, labor proponent, professor, policy specialist and advocate for our practice. He joins WSNA at a critical time for our members, our union and our profession. David is already bringing his experience, skills and passion to the job.

January 17, 2022

WSNA in Olympia – Legislative Session Week 1

This was a busy week of hearings on policy bills and WSNA was well repre­sented with several members providing testi­mony on key bills. As a reminder, all hearings and meetings with legis­la­tors are taking place over Zoom and are being aired on TVW.

January 14, 2022

Symptomatic health care workers must not be forced to work

Press release Statement

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.

January 14, 2022

Support each other, learn from each other, build each other up

"I became a nurse in 1994 — I feel very fortunate to have had such a rewarding career as a nurse and union member for the last 27 years. I feel nursing is a calling and vocation and not just a job."

January 11, 2022

Healthcare workers launch campaign for safe staffing legislation

Press release

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.

December 13, 2021

It's time to act: The campaign for a safe staffing law in Washington state is here

On Dec. 13, join the launch of our statewide campaign to ensure that we can care for patients safely, retain qualified staff, recruit new people into our industry, and create sustainable and resilient healthcare systems for our communities.

December 8, 2021

Nurses at St. Joe’s Tacoma Launch Strike Petition

Press release

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.

November 18, 2021

Washington State Nurses Association supports Kaiser strikers

Press release

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.

November 10, 2021