Recently a notorious anti-union group, the so-called Freedom Foundation, submitted sweeping demands for information to public employers throughout Washington State, seeking the full name, birthdate, duty station or location, and work e-mail of every public employee.

The Washington State Nurses Association joined other unions in filing a lawsuit to prevent the disclosure of your personal information. WSNA emphasized that disclosure of the personal information would violate nurses’ right to privacy and could jeopardize the safety of nurses who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other threats to their bodily security.

On December 27, 2019, a Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily preventing the disclosure of the names, birthdates, duty stations/locations, and work e-mails of public employees.

If you or a family member have been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other threats of violence and you wish to prevent the disclosure of your personal information, please contact paralegal Jeanna Te in the WSNA legal department at 206-575-7979, extension 3040, or tjeanna@wsna.org. Any information you provide shall be kept strictly confidential.

Protecting your privacy and safety are paramount to WSNA.

NOTE: You should not provide sensitive information to your employer about risks to your security, except as necessary to ensure your safety at work, since any information provided to a public employer may be subject to disclosure as a public record.

If you have any questions about this issue, please contact the WSNA legal department at 206-575-7979, extension 3040 or tjeanna@wsna.org.