The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU; ) is a trade union centre in Canada. The CFNU is a federation of provincial unions representing registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, registered or licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, student nurses and a range of allied health care workers. It advocates on a national level for issues related to nurses, health care and workers. Affiliations The CFNU is a founding member of Global Nurses United and collaborates with the International Council of Nurses. It is a member of the Canadian Health Coalition and the Canadian Labour Congress, and sits on the CLC’s executive committee. Membership The CFNU represents about 200,000 unionized nurses, student nurses and allied health care workers. Membership is through provincial nurses’ unions, which are the CFNU’s member organizations. The CFNU’s current member organizations include eight nurses’ unions and one nursing students’ union. Each organization holds a seat on the CFNU’s national executive board, helping to shape the positions and priorities of the national umbrella group. CFNU members organizations are: Canadian Nursing Students’ Association Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union New Brunswick Nurses Union Ontario Nurses’ Association Manitoba Nurses Union Saskatchewan Union of Nurses United Nurses of Alberta History In Winnipeg on International Workers’ Day, May 1, 1981, the National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) was formed to represent unionized nurses at the national level. More than 300 delegates from every nurses’ union in Canada voted unanimously to form the organization. NFNU was later renamed to Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) in 1999 to represent Canadian nurses internationally. CFNU established its full-time office in Ottawa in September 1987. The Founding member organizations were: Manitoba Organization of Nurses’ Associations New Brunswick Nurses Union Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union Prince Edward Island Provincial Collective Bargaining Committee Saskatchewan Union of Nurses CFNU Presidents: Sonny Arrojado (1981-1982) Mary Dwyer (1982-1983) Kathleen Connors (1983-1999) Debra McPherson (acting 1999-2000) Kathleen Connors (2000-2003) Linda Silas (2003-present) CFNU Vice-Presidents: Mary Dwyer (1981-1982) Jane Murray (1983-1985) Madeleine Steeves (1985-1987) Barbara LeBlanc (1987-1989) Maria Ward (1989-1993) Debra McPherson (1993-1997) Note: the CFNU no longer elects vice-presidents. Secretary-Treasurers: Jill Jones (1981-1989) Dorothy Bragg (1989-1997) Debra McPherson (1997-2001) Pauline Worsfold (2001-present) Timeline of CFNU and Canadian nurses unions 1973 – Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) was founded 1974 – Newfoundland Nurses Union (NNU) founded (later Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union – NLNU, and then