Public health nurses fight for fair contract

Nurses providing care to some of King County’s most vulnerable residents report disrespect at the bargaining table

SEATTLE, WA (August 18, 2025) — After eight months of negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, Public Health – Seattle & King County has so far refused to address key issues at the bargaining table, reports the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA). More concerning, the union reports that the employer is pushing for takeaways at the table.

Public health nurses provide care to patients who frequently have complex health needs, requiring experience and a high degree of skill. They are also a vital resource for protecting broader community health and wellbeing. But WSNA reports that under the current pay structure, public health nurses at King County essentially stop getting raises after 10 years of service — at some levels, pay for experienced nurses is 40% behind market rate, per the union. Stagnant pay is pushing experienced nurses out; those who remain are struggling with burnout, and the feeling that they are unappreciated and disrespected.

Photo collage: WSNA

Inadequate wages have long been a concern at Public Health — Seattle & King County. Last year, the County convened a committee to look at wages, with the intent that the committee’s findings would be the foundation for current negotiations. WSNA reports the County is now breaking that promise, ignoring the results of the committee’s work and refusing to budge on compensation.

Beyond wages, nurses are fighting for contract language covering the process for filing a discrimination complaint. Working conditions for nurses have become increasingly fraught since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many healthcare providers facing not only increased violence from patients, but harassment and discrimination on the job as well. And while Public Health — Seattle & King County publicly places emphasis on equity, the reality for nurses working for the County doesn’t match up. Right now, nurses who believe they are experiencing discrimination have to go through an internal County process to file a complaint, a process the union reports is largely ineffective; workers are jumping through administrative hoops only to feel unsupported while issues remain unresolved. Nurses are pushing for contract language that will empower them to file a grievance with the full support of their union.

TAKE A STAND: support public health nurses in their negotiations by signing this petition to Public Health — Seattle & King County.