Silas: I am proud to welcome Northern nurses into the largest movement of unionized nurses across North America
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) is proud to welcome nurses in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut into its ranks, uniting nurses from coast to coast to coast.
“Nursing is a team sport where we are all stronger together. Uniting nurses from ocean to ocean to ocean is a big win for our profession, creating more room for collaboration over our shared challenges and goals. Working in solidarity across borders empowers nurses to push forward solutions for their own communities and for everyone in Canada,” said Linda Silas, CFNU President.
More than 1,300 frontline nurses represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) in the territories are now affiliated with the CFNU. This move brings nurses together in 12 of 13 Canada’s provinces and territories.
Nursing is recognized worldwide as a critical workforce essential to the delivery of safe, accessible and high-quality public health care. It is essential that nurses work collectively across all provinces and territories to advocate for safe nurse-to-patient ratios, safe workplaces and strengthened public health care systems.
Across Canada, nurses have benefited from solidarity, strong collaboration and interconnectivity among nursing unions. This commitment between CFNU and PSAC strengthens that connection.
“We know that health care in the North comes with unique challenges, and we’ve heard a clear call from our members to explore more ways to improve conditions for workers,” said Josée-Anne Spirito, PSAC North Regional Executive Vice-President. “This affiliation means the experiences of nurses in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut will help shape national advocacy, while uniting our members in solidarity with nurses around the country. Together, we will amplify nurses’ voices, advocate for solutions to the challenges we face, and deliver the quality care that workers, families and communities across the North deserve.”
Silas welcomes Spirito into the CFNU’s leadership and thanks PSAC’s leadership for championing the unification of Northern nurses with the CFNU. More details on the agreement will be released in the coming weeks.
“I am proud to welcome Northern nurses into the largest movement of unionized nurses across North America,” Silas said. “From the difficulties accessing care in rural and remote communities to the critical need for safe staffing mandates, our national solidarity makes us more powerful as we work toward the solutions that nurses in the North and across Canada need. Together, nurses are a powerful force.”
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The CFNU is Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, representing 250,000 frontline unionized nurses and nursing students in every sector of health care – from home care and LTC to community and acute care – and advocating on key priorities to strengthen public health care across the country.
For more information, please contact Adella Khan, media@nursesunions.ca, 613‑807‑2942.
