David M. Keepnews

David Keepnews has served as executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association, AFT Local 5901, since 2021. WSNA is a union and professional association representing over 20,000 registered nurses throughout the state. As executive director, Keepnews serves as WSNA’s principal officer. He began his career as a staff nurse in psychiatric and mental health settings before obtaining degrees in law, public health and social policy, focusing his efforts on health policy and advocacy.

After working as an assistant regional counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Keepnews held staff positions in nursing and healthcare labor and professional organizations. He has also served in leadership positions in state and national nursing associations. Keepnews spent several years as a nursing educator, including faculty roles at the University of Washington, Adelphi University (where he served on the American Association of University Professors bargaining team), Hunter College of the City University of New York (where he was a member of Professional Staff Congress/CUNY, AFT Local 2334) and the George Washington University.

In addition to serving as an AFT vice president, Keepnews sits on the AFT Nurses and Health Professionals program and policy council and LGBTQIA+ Task Force. He is a vice president of the Washington State Labor Council, the state’s AFL-CIO labor federation.

Keepnews walked his first picket lines at age 13 in New York City, joining other supporters of the United Farm Workers in protesting stores that carried scab grapes. He firmly believes that labor is the engine that powers social progress and justice, and that collective bargaining is key to winning advances that benefit health professionals and the patients and communities they serve.

Born and raised in New York City, Keepnews lives south of Seattle with his husband, Peter Tung, and their dog, Paloma.