Q&A with Edna Cortez, chair of the WSNA Labor Executive Council

What is your top priority for WSNA in 2026, and why?

We need to keep working on being more visible to our members. They need to see who we are, what we do, and how we can help them. The Leadership Executive Council (LEC) represents all bargaining nurses. We help them in negotiations, picketing, and take a role during a strike vote — just some of the assistance we provide to the bargaining nurses.

All the work done with the LEC is a team effort, and nothing is done alone. The face of nursing is every nurse in this state.

As chair of the LEC, I initiated traveling meetings, going to an area of the state, and inviting members to connect with us. We attend local unit meetings and negotiating sessions and network with members. I am known as someone who always shows up. I do that because I am passionate about being present for our members.

I am also excited about representing WSNA in the state with Justin [Gill, WSNA President]. We are both people of color. I am proud to be a Washington state Filipina nurse, and my other top priority is showing people that nursing and WSNA represent all segments of society. We are also trans, older, male, and diverse.

When you look back on 2025, what are some of the highlights you will never forget?

It has been such an honor to witness nurses in their own element and on their negotiating team. I was on the negotiating team for Seattle Children’s for 25 years, and now I can see how other units do their negotiations and how issues are different at each facility.

When I observed the negotiations for the 100 nurses at the Mares facility in Central Washington, I was struck by the camaraderie. They took care of each other. If a team member could not stay for the whole session, another team member would split the time with them.

It was also an honor to observe the Seattle King County Public Health nurses. I did not realize that they assist over 80,000 patients throughout the state. They worked well together coming from different areas — jail, supervisors, and public health.

Watching our nurses fight for their own issues is so humbling. I compare it to taking care of my patients. I always find it an honor to represent WSNA and the LEC during contract negotiations. I wouldn’t be in this job if it weren’t for all these nurses. They put their trust in me and listen to me.

Through WSNA, I am able to lend my voice to the Asian American Pacific Islander National Task Force within AFT and expand my involvement with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. I am also a member of the state AFT Civil and Human Rights Committee.

It’s an honor and a pleasure to be here.

What advice would you give to WSNA members?

I have always said, “Try to speak up.” You may be afraid of bullying or retaliation, but there is a way to speak up. Find a mentor or someone you can count on in the union. I have always told nurses, “I will attend grievance meetings. I will be there. I will stand behind you, in front of you, or carry you on my shoulders to help guide you and to help give you strength. Whether speaking up for yourself or others, I will always be there.” I learned that from WSNA.

To get involved, find somebody you can trust at WSNA who can introduce you to people and start networking. My union guru at Seattle Children’s invited me to a local unit meeting, and then I got hooked. I went to more meetings, attended Leadership Conference, and became a local unit officer.

What is your long-term dream for WSNA?

My long-term dream for WSNA is to represent more facilities and more types of nurses. I also want WSNA to have more diversity, equity, and inclusion among its employees.

A note to the reader: I am embarrassed to have been interviewed for this article because it is not my nature. I am extremely humbled by every nurse that I meet.
— Edna Cortez