Nurses of today, just like the workers who have come before us, are shaping the future of our communities. Nursing as one of the largest professions in the country is on the forefront of this change.
The expectation of the nursing profession has changed significantly in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been lauded as heroes while facing increasingly unsafe workplaces with trends in violence only growing.
Our day-to-day realities demand a new era for workers. One built on fairness, equity and, above all, respect.
Respect comes in many forms. Respect means ensuring health workplaces are well staffed so you can give patients the best levels of care, without the moral distress that comes with unsustainable patient loads.
Respect means not being badgered on your days off to work more overtime when what you really want to do is attend your kid’s soccer game.
Respect means fair compensation and strong benefits. It means knowing your workplace is committed to your safety each and every day.
Respect means ensuring internationally educated nurses do not face an uphill battle to join the profession when they’ve uprooted their lives to care for patients in Canada.
Respect means being heard and having a seat at the decision-making table. It means treating nursing as the safety-critical workforce it is.
We cannot and will not accept anything less.
Labour Day is a reminder of the strength that workers have when we stand together. Our movement started over a century ago when workers stood together to demand an end to exploitative working conditions during the industrial revolution. The women’s labour movement grew out of this, battling discrimination to create a fairer world for all. Our history shows, when we stand together, we win.
This summer, Canada’s nurses stood shoulder to shoulder with CUPE flight attendants as they took history-making strike action. Both our professions are female-dominated, undervalued and too often expected to do unpaid work. When I joined flight attendants on the picket line in Halifax, I was reminded of the power we have when we lift our voices loud and clear as one and say: enough is enough!
Together, your nurses’ unions are building a new era for all workers. We are making sure our politicians feel the heat and pushing our governments to step up and deliver better for nurses.
From safe nurse-patient ratios to fair and equitable contracts, we are demanding better for nurses and for all of Canada. Because when nurses win, we all win.
Nurses’ voices shaped CFNU’s latest report, Today’s Nurse, and you told us what you need to stay in this profession long-term: protection, engagement, respect.
I know, respect is not optional – it’s essential. And I won’t stop fighting until each and every nurse has the respect you deserve.
In unwavering solidarity,
Linda Silas, CFNU President
