One Strong Voice
The result of a five-year project by Barbara E. Frye to document the tumultuous “Raids” against WSNA in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Telling the stories” is part of the culture of WSNA, and of nursing and women, and we realized that those of us who remember those times and who can tell the story of The Raids are getting older; memories are beginning to fade. It was startling to realize that younger nurses don’t know what “The Raids” refer to. We both felt it was important to document the events, the facts, feelings and observations, through the lens of those who experienced those events.
This period was a defining time for WSNA, and the organization must to be able to look back in history and learn from our mistakes if we are not to repeat them.
— from the Preface
About the author
A consummate nurse and union leader who believed that nurses must represent nurses, Barbara E. Frye served on the staff of the Washington State Nurses Association for 20 years, guiding us through the union raids that devastated our association and leading us toward a stronger future. In 2016, Barbara was inducted in the Washington State Nurses Hall of Fame in recognition of her demonstrated excellence, leadership, public service, nurse advocacy, heroism and lifelong contributions.
Table of contents
Dedication i
Preface iii
Introduction v
The Formative Years: 1898–1930s
The Rise of State Nurses Associations
Nursing Grows to Meet the Needs of a Growing Washington
So Many Nurses, So Few Jobs
The Taft–Hartley Act, Nurses, and the Rise of Unions
War, Economic Security, Change Everywhere
World War II Challenges Nursing
The Turbulent ‘60s and ‘70s
The 1970s: Taft–Hartley Amendment and Political Action
The 1976 Strikes
Aftermath of the Strikes
The Raids
The First Wave, 1983–1989: Group Health, Yakima Memorial, Harborview
The Second Wave, 1988–1991
1989: Chaos and Betrayal
Renewal, Restructure, Recovery
Restoring Trust
The Final Fights of The Raids
Struggle, Victories, and Renewal
Building National Labor Strength
WSNA Today and in the Future
2016: The Status of “RN” Unions in Washington State Today
Recommendations for the Future
Conclusion
Afterword: Reflections and Looking to the Future
References
Purchase the book
By Barbara E. Frye, BSN, RN
148 pages
Published 2019 by the Washington State Nurses Association
$25 for an unsigned copy
$100 for a copy autographed by the author (limited quantity)
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