The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU; French: Fédération canadienne des syndicats d'infirmières et infirmiers [FCSII]) is a trade union centreinCanada. 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.
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.
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.
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
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]
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]
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.
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.
