The Real Frontline, Part I: The Nurses Fighting To Keep Healthcare Alive In Central Washington

In the fight for their patients, union nurses Barcott and Bucio have also benefited from the power and protection that comes with a collective bargaining agreement.

Through the Washington State Nurses Association, they’ve helped secure major wins at the hospital and state levels—from raising wages and improving staffing language in local contracts to driving legislative reforms in Olympia. Those statewide victories include stronger protections against workplace violence in healthcare settings, new unemployment eligibility for healthcare workers during strikes or lockouts, and meaningful oversight of hospital mergers and closures to prevent cuts that undercut staffing or compromise patient care.

The Washington State Nurses Association is a member of the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals, the nation’s second-largest union in the country representing members of the profession.