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News & Events

January 11, 2024
Media Release Occupational Health & Safety

Heart disease, drowsy driving and patient safety: new study reveals grim impact of nurse fatigue

Silas: With nurses working longer hours than ever before, we must proactively address nurse fatigue. January 11, 2024 (Ottawa, ON) – A new report from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) sheds light on the dire impact excessively long working hours have on nurses and their patients. Released today, Safe Hours Save Lives reveals […]

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June 30, 2022
Occupational Health & Safety

hMPXV: What you need to know

The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions has been monitoring the evolving situation involving monkeypox, and we are working with governments to ensure that health care workers are adequately protected while delivering care. On July 2022, the World Health Organization labelled monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. The virus is behaving in novel ways […]

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April 28, 2022
Occupational Health & Safety Statement

Canada’s nurses mark National Day of Mourning

Silas says to truly honour workers, we must fight to ensure all workers go home safely at the end of each day. As Canada observes today’s National Day of Mourning for workers killed on the job, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) joins unions across the country in demanding that occupational health and safety […]

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January 13, 2022
COVID-19 Media Release Nursing Shortage Occupational Health & Safety

Canada’s nurses: it’s time to hit the brakes

January 13, 2022 (OTTAWA, ON) – Canada’s nurses are alarmed at the rapid spread of Omicron across Canada. Immediate and decisive action is urgently needed to keep our health care system from crumbling under the weight of this highly infectious variant. “This isn’t the time to be pussyfooting around,” declared Linda Silas, president of the […]

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November 10, 2021
COVID-19 Occupational Health & Safety

In memoriam: Canada’s health workers who have died of COVID-19

Updated on November 10, 2021 Across the globe, health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic do essential work caring for patients but all too often put themselves at risk of infection. Join the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions in remembering and honouring the lives of all Canada’s health care workers who […]

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September 10, 2021
COVID-19 Media Release Occupational Health & Safety

It’s time to bring the temperature down

Over the past few weeks, we have watched public discourse around vaccination and other public health measures rapidly devolve. This reached fever pitch, last week, as a small but vocal minority protested outside hospitals, disrupting access to vital care. More recently, we’ve seen federal election candidates attacked and their campaign signs defaced. Even the nursing […]

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September 8, 2021
COVID-19 Occupational Health & Safety

Letter: Future PM must commit to robust measures to protect Canadians from COVID-19

The following letter was sent to all federal party leaders on September 3, 2021. Amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 and a federal election campaign, Canada’s nurses call on you to commit to adopting robust prevention measures to protect the Canadian public and frontline workers. We support the appeal sent to you by members of […]

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August 26, 2021
COVID-19 Occupational Health & Safety

Message to Canada’s Nurses from Linda Silas re: mandatory vaccinations

Throughout this pandemic, the CFNU has consistently aligned its position with science, evidenced-based decision-making, and a precautionary approach. When COVID-19 first emerged and little was known about how it spread, the CFNU fought for PPE and airborne precautions to keep nurses safe – to keep everyone safe. We pushed governments and employers to put safety […]

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August 12, 2021
COVID-19 Nursing Shortage Occupational Health & Safety Safe Staffing

Nurses’ unions announce national day of action on September 17

Canada’s nurses are done asking – we demand action now UPDATED: Nurses’ unions announce national day of action highlighting the nursing crisis will be held on September 17 The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and provincial nurses’ unions across the country are organizing a national day of action to demand urgent government action fixing Canada’s […]

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March 30, 2021
Blog COVID-19 Occupational Health & Safety Safe Staffing

A year into the pandemic, nurses are exhausted – and angry

As the anniversary for March 11 anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic has come and gone, nurses across Canada are at their breaking point. We are exhausted, burned out – and angry. Nurses are on the frontlines of the pandemic and our health-care system every day. We see its problems […]

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