Over a thousand nurses, family members, community supporters, and union siblings packed the streets from corner to corner and spoke with one voice: enough is enough. We’re demanding equitable wages, affordable healthcare, and the respect every nurse deserves.

Dressed in WSNA blue, we moved like a crashing tide—our signs rising like whitecaps in a storm of solidarity. The chants, the cheers, the music, the honking horns from passing cars — it was impossible to ignore. From powerful speeches by nurses, union leaders, and city councilmembers to RN Brian Martens’ unforgettable protest song, it was clear: nurses at St. Joe’s are not backing down—and Bellingham has our backs.

Want to relive the day?

See WSNA President Justin Gill build us up

Watch Brian’s performance

We want to thank everyone in over 40 groups outside of our Union who helped make this Picket Huge! This includes the following:

The Elected officials who attended in support:
City Council Members Hollie Huthman, Skip Williams, Jace Cotton, and Hannah Stone, Whatcom County Council Member Kaylee Galloway, Port of Bellingham’s Michael Shepard.

Unions, Organizations and community members:

BEA, Bellingham Tenants Union, Bellingham Fire Department, Birchwood Food Desert Fighters, IAFF 106, IBEW 76, Indivisible, IWW, Jobs with Justice, NWWCLC, OSW 12-591, RCA, RPEC, SAG-AFTRA SEIU 1199, SEIU 775, Teamsters 231, Troublemakers, UAPD, UFWW, UAW 4929, USMA, WEA, WFSE 1381.

The students and faculty of Western Washington University, the patients of St Joe’s, and the Bellingham Community at large!

WSNA Local Units and Leaders: Justin Gill and Edna Cortez, Seattle Children’s, Evergreen, Skagit Regional, United General, and Central Confluence.

We are sure that we were not able to account for everyone; please know these are just some of those we want to thank.

What’s Next

The picket may be over, but the fight is far from finished.

Bargaining Day
May 16, 9:30 am
St. Luke’s HEC in Conference Room C

During the picket, management agreed to return to the table on May 16. We need to show up strong once again. Mark your calendars—we need every nurse in that room. Let’s remind management: you can’t outlast us. [Note: we are currently scheduled to meet in Conference Room C!]

Sip and Chat Monday 4:30-5:30 pm, virtual

Join us every Monday to talk strategy, updates, next steps, Q&A and whatever needs talking about.

For all the updates and news

Visit our local unit web page at https://www.wsna.org/union/st-joseph-hospital.

Follow our Instagram:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsna_stjobell/

Need WSNA Stuff?

Talk with Sage Jones for our remaining shirts or try the beta WSNA store: https://www.wsna.org/store

SEIU 1199 Support, TBD and ongoing

We stand in solidarity with our SEIU and UAPD siblings as they prepare to strike from May 12-16. Nurses have a First Amendment right to support striking workers—but please keep in mind:

• You may only join a picket line on your own time – not while you’re on the clock.
• While individual nurses can join the picket on their own time, WSNA must still provide ten days’ notice before providing union support on the picket line.
• There are ways to support your striking coworkers while you’re on the clock. Stay tuned for more details on how to show solidarity on the job.

We’ll share more soon on how we can legally and meaningfully support SEIU workers in the days ahead.

Nurses Week 2025

Nurses Week begins Tuesday, May 6—but this year, the best gift we can give each other is a fair contract.

To focus our resources on supporting the contract campaign, the board has voted not to purchase Nurses Week gifts. Instead, we’re asking nurses to give back to the communities that have shown us so much love. Please consider donating food, clothes, or your time to those in need across Bellingham and Whatcom County.

Send us your donation photos!

 Email pictures to SJBEL@WSNA.org
Suggested donation sites:

• Bellingham Food Bank
  • 1824 Ellis Street
• Light House Mission
  • 1312 F St, Bellingham, WA 98225

From the street to the table, we’ve shown what WSNA nurses are made of.

Stay strong. Stay united. Stay ready.

In solidarity,
Laura Bayes, Robin Cully, Jenn Engelhart, Rhonda Tull, Tracy Pullar, Amber Pouley, Jen Hampton, Kristin Malmo, Errin Hull, Kelly Carroll, and Jessica Moran

Questions about the picket, negotiations, or anything else? Message your nurse rep Jared at JRichardson@WSNA.org.