Canada’s Nurses Stand with Nurses, Health Care Workers in 11 Countries

Canada’s Nurses are lending support to a global initiative highlighting action to protect patients and public health care services. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), representing close to 200,000 nurses, is joining leading nurse and health care union organizations in 11 countries across the globe to hold coordinated actions during International Nurses Day, supporting global efforts to improve patient care protection, oppose cuts in health care services, and stop the erosion of nurses’ workplace and living standards that are under attack in many countries.

The international actions are the latest in a series of actions by member organizations of Global Nurses United (GNU) which includes the CFNU and other leading nurses and health care organizations in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe, who pledged to work together on patient care, public health, opposing privatization, austerity, and the dangers to public health posed by climate change.

“Canada’s Nurses stand in solidarity with nurses across the globe as we strive to provide safe, quality care to our patients,” said Linda Silas, CFNU President. “We are pleased to be launching our federal election campaign ‘Vote for the Health Care We Deserve’ during International Nurses Day,” says Silas.

Central themes of GNU members also include working collectively together to guarantee the highest standards of universal health care as a human right for all, to secure safe patient care, especially with safe nurse‐to‐patient ratios, and safe health care workplaces.

“This great series of actions represents the dedication of nurses and other health care workers worldwide uniting to protect patients and the health of our nations,” said Karen Higgins, RN, copresident of National Nurses United in the U.S. “GNU was founded as an activist organization, with the view that our collective movement was critical to challenge the governments and global institutions that promote austerity and cuts in services – and to push for the changes needed for all our communities and nations,” she said.

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The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions represents close to 200,000 nurses and student nurses. Our members work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health care and our homes.