The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU; ) 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 Studentsâ 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), 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 nursesâ unions, as well as one nursing studentsâ 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:
In Winnipeg on International Workersâ 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 nursesâ 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.
CFNU established its full-time office in Ottawa in September 1987.
The Founding member organizations were:
CFNU Presidents:
Note: the CFNU no longer elects vice-presidents.
Secretary-Treasurers:
1973 â Ontario Nursesâ Association (ONA) was founded
1974 â Newfoundland Nurses Union (NNU) founded (later Newfoundland and Labrador Nursesâ Union â NLNU, and then since 2014 Registered Nursesâ Union Newfoundland & Labrador â RNUNL)
1974 â Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) founded
1975 â Manitoba Organization of Nursesâ Associations (MONA) was founded (in 1990 renamed Manitoba Nurses Union â MNU)
1976 â Nova Scotia Nursesâ Union (NSNU) founded
1977 â United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) founded
1978 â New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU) founded
1981 â British Columbia Nursesâ Union (BCNU) founded
1981 â National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) founded by Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Saskatchewan
1981 â NSNU joins NFNU
1982 â NFNU joins the Canadian Health Coalition
1985 â Staff Nursesâ Association of Alberta (SNAA) joins NFNU
1987 â NFNU opens a full-time office in Ottawa and president becomes full-time position
1987 â Prince Edward Island Nursesâ Union (PEINU) founded
1987 â Fédération des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec (FIIQ) founded, in 2006 renamed Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)
1992 â BCNU joins NFNU
1998 â NFNU joins the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
1999 â United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) joins CFNU, after merging with SNAA
1999 â National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) renamed to Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)
2000 â ONA joins CFNU
2007 â The Canadian Nursing Studentsâ Association (CNSA) joins CFNU as associate member
2011 â BCNU leaves CFNU and CLC
2013 â Global Nurses United (GNU) is formed with CFNU as a founding member
2019 â All CFNU Member Organizations affiliated with their provincial federations of labour
2022 â BCNU begins process to re-join CFNU
2023 - BCNU rejoins CFNU
The CFNU, along with its member organizations, have championed a wide range of issues and causes, most often related to health care and nursesâ 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 premiersâ summits, and provincial health ministersâ summits. It has been recognized as a highly effecting lobbying force.
The CFNU conducts ongoing research on its key priority issues, typically releasing several policy and research reports each year.
Notable advocacy work includes:
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.