August 15, 2025
Dear nurses, midwives and HCAs at NZNO,
The global community of nursing unions is watching your efforts with pride and admiration. On behalf of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), representing 250,000 unionized nurses and nursing students, I extend a message of solidarity.
Your fight is our fight. Across the world, frontline nurses are reaching a breaking point. We have all had enough. We have had enough of being overworked, under-resourced and unable to provide the quality care our patients rightfully deserve. We have had enough of being disregarded, undervalued and pushed to the margins of the health care systems we uphold.
We applaud your unity and determination at NZNO. You understand that real change comes from the bargaining table, where your collective voice is strong. However, as we know from experience, employers cannot negotiate fairly unless they are properly funded. In a publicly funded health care system, governments must invest if they expect results.
To Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Health Simeon Brown: you made a commitment to the people of New Zealand – to provide accessible and quality health care. That promise cannot be fulfilled without a strong, respected and well-supported nursing workforce.
Safe staffing and a fair contract are not optional — they are essential.
Under the umbrella of Global Nurses United (GNU) we remain united, resilient and determined, and together we will succeed.
In solidarity always,
Linda Silas, CFNU President