Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

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Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
AbbreviationCFNU
Formation1981 (1981)
TypeTrade union centre
HeadquartersOttawa, Ontario, Canada
Location
  • Canada
Membership
Approx. 250,000
President
Linda Silas
Affiliations
Websitenursesunions.ca Edit this at Wikidata
Formerly called
National Federation of Nurses Unions

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU; French: Fédération canadienne des syndicats d'infirmières et infirmiers [FCSII]) is a trade union centre in Canada. The CFNU is a federation of provincial unions representing nurses, nurse practitioners, student nurses, and various allied health care workers. It advocates on a national level for issues related to nurses, patient care, the health care system, and working conditions. As of 2023, the CNFU represents nearly 250,000 nurses and student nurses across Canada, who are members of the nine provincial nurses unions and Canadian Nursing Students’ Association.

Affiliations[edit]

The CFNU is a founding member of Global Nurses United and collaborates with the International Council of Nurses. It is a member of the Canadian Health Coalition and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and sits on the CLC's executive committee.

Membership[edit]

The CFNU represents almost 250,000 unionized registered nurses (RNs), licensed or registered practical nurses (LPNs/RPNs in Ontario[1]), nurse practitioners (NPs), nursing students and a range of allied health care professionals. Membership is through the CFNU's member organizations, which include nine provincial nurses’ unions, as well as one nursing students’ union. Each organization holds a seat on the CFNU's national executive board, helping to shape the positions and priorities of the national umbrella group.

Members organizations:

  • British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU)
  • Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA)
  • Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU)
  • New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU)
  • Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union (NSNU)
  • Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA)
  • Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union (PEINU)
  • Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador (RNUNL)
  • Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN)
  • United Nurses of Alberta (UNA)

History[edit]

In Winnipeg on International Workers’ Day, May 1, 1981, the National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) was formed to represent unionized nurses at the national level. More than 300 delegates from every nurses’ union in Canada voted unanimously to form the organization. NFNU was later renamed to Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) in 1999 to represent Canadian nurses internationally.[2][3]

CFNU established its full-time office in Ottawa in September 1987.

The Founding member organizations were:

  • Manitoba Organization of Nurses’ Associations
  • New Brunswick Nurses Union
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union
  • Prince Edward Island Provincial Collective Bargaining Committee
  • Saskatchewan Union of Nurses

CFNU Presidents:

  • Sonny Arrojado (1981-1982)
  • Mary Dwyer (1982-1983)
  • Kathleen Connors (1983-1999)
  • Debra McPherson (acting 1999–2000)
  • Kathleen Connors (2000-2003)
  • Linda Silas (2003–present)[4]

CFNU Vice-presidents:

  • Mary Dwyer (1981-1982)
  • Jane Murray (1983-1985)
  • Madeleine Steeves (1985-1987)
  • Barbara LeBlanc (1987-1989)
  • Maria Ward (1989-1993)
  • Debra McPherson (1993-1997)

Note: the CFNU no longer elects vice-presidents.

Secretary-Treasurers:

  • Jill Jones (1981-1989)
  • Dorothy Bragg (1989-1997)
  • Debra McPherson (1997-2001)
  • Pauline Worsfold (2001-2023)
  • Angela Preocanin (2023–present)

Timeline of CFNU and Canadian nurses unions[edit]

1973 – Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) was founded[5]

1974 – Newfoundland Nurses Union (NNU) founded (later Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union – NLNU, and then since 2014 Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador – RNUNL)[6]

1974 – Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) founded[7]

1975 – Manitoba Organization of Nurses’ Associations (MONA) was founded (in 1990 renamed Manitoba Nurses Union – MNU)[8]

1976 – Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union (NSNU) founded[9]

1977 – United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) founded[10]

1978 – New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU) founded[11]

1981 – British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) founded[12]

1981 – National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) founded by Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Saskatchewan[2]

1981 – NSNU joins NFNU[3]

1982 – NFNU joins the Canadian Health Coalition[2]

1985 – Staff Nurses’ Association of Alberta (SNAA) joins NFNU[3]

1987 – NFNU opens a full-time office in Ottawa and president becomes full-time position[3]

1987 – Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union (PEINU) founded[13]

1987 – Fédération des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec (FIIQ) founded, in 2006 renamed Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)[14]

1992 – BCNU joins NFNU[15]

1998 – NFNU joins the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)[2]

1999 – United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) joins CFNU, after merging with SNAA[16]

1999 – National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) renamed to Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)[2]

2000 – ONA joins CFNU[2]

2007 – The Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) joins CFNU as associate member

2011 – BCNU leaves CFNU and CLC[17]

2013 – Global Nurses United (GNU) is formed with CFNU as a founding member[18]

2019 – All CFNU Member Organizations affiliated with their provincial federations of labour[2]

2022 – BCNU begins process to re-join CFNU[19]

2023 - BCNU rejoins CFNU

Positions and advocacy[edit]

The CFNU, along with its member organizations, have championed a wide range of issues and causes, most often related to health care and nurses’ working conditions. It advocates for strong federal leadership in health care. The CFNU works with parliamentarians, provincial premiers and health ministers, union members, other organizations and the public to raise awareness and drive policy. The CFNU typically hosts annual policy events, including at the Council of the Federation premiers’ summits, and provincial health ministers’ summits. It has been recognized as a highly effecting lobbying force.[20]

The CFNU conducts ongoing research on its key priority issues, typically releasing several policy and research reports each year.

Notable advocacy work includes:

  • Improving health human resources planning[21]
  • Implementing a national, universal pharmacare program[22]
  • Eliminating workplace violence in health care[23]
  • Transforming Canada's long-term care system[24][25]
  • Supporting mental health for health care workers, and addressing root causes of stress[26]
  • Ensuring proper protections (including Personal Protection Equipment - PPE) for health care workers[27][28]
  • COVID vaccine promotion for all Canadians[29]
  • Adequate federal health care funding[30]

The CFNU also advocates for climate action, universal child care, justice and equity for Indigenous peoples, human rights and equitable access to health care for all, fair wages and retirement security for all workers, and other issues.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Psychiatric nurse". College of Nurses Ontario. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Our Story". Canada's Nurses. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  3. ^ a b c d "Taking Our Place: Stories from Leaders of Canada's Nurses Union Movement". Canada's Nurses. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  4. ^ Bourgeault, Linda Silas and Ivy Lynn (2019-11-12). "Nov 2019: Nurse practitioners add value". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  5. ^ "Vision, Mission and History – ONA". Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  6. ^ "History – Registered Nurses' Union NL | RNUNL". Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  7. ^ "Our First 25 Years « Who We Are « About Us « Saskatchewan Union Of Nurses". sun-nurses.sk.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  8. ^ "Our History | MNU". manitobanurses.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  9. ^ "About NSNU". Nova Scotia Nurses Union. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  10. ^ "About - UNA". www.una.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  11. ^ "Our Story". New Brunswick Nurses Union. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  12. ^ "History, Mission and Vision". www.bcnu.org. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  13. ^ "History". PEI Nurses Union. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  14. ^ "Brief history of the FIQ". FIQ (Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec). 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  15. ^ "History, Mission and Vision". www.bcnu.org. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  16. ^ "UNA History" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-15.
  17. ^ Sandborn, Tom (2012-12-14). "Solidarity on Life Support? Nurses Union Steps up Raids". The Tyee. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  18. ^ "Global Nurses United". Nova Scotia Nurses Union. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  19. ^ René, Ben (2022-03-18). "Silas: Now more than ever, solidarity among nurses is essential". Canada's Nurses. Retrieved 2023-08-29.
  20. ^ Campbell, Murray (July 31, 2004). "How the door to national pharmacare swung open (Globe and Mail)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-27.
  21. ^ "Nurse Practitioners are the innovative solution to Canada's health care woes – Evidence Network". evidencenetwork.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  22. ^ Foundation, Heart and Stroke. "New joint campaign calls on feds to take immediate action on pharmacare". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  23. ^ "Canadian nurses decry inferior First Nations health care, workplace violence". calgaryherald. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  24. ^ "Silas: It's Time to Reimagine Aging in Canada". Canada's Nurses. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  25. ^ Virtual Panel: Aging Reimagined, retrieved 2021-06-15
  26. ^ "'We are not superhuman': Health-care workers plead for more mental health support". Global News. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  27. ^ Read, Jordyn (2020-11-25). "'They were all returned': Why PPE manufacturers need approval before nurses can touch it". London. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  28. ^ COVID-19: Proper PPE is essential, archived from the original on 2021-12-22, retrieved 2021-06-15
  29. ^ "Get The Vaccine When It's Your Turn". Trust Nurses. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  30. ^ "Budget 2021 falls short for nurses – from pharmacare to health transfers". Canada's Nurses. 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-06-15.

External links[edit]

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