[citation needed] Members organizations: 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.

Secretary-Treasurers: 1973 – Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) was founded[5] 1974 – Newfoundland Nurses Union (NNU) founded (later Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses’ Union – NLNU, and then since 2014 Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador – RNUNL)[6] 1974 – Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) founded[7] 1975 – Manitoba Organization of Nurses’ Associations (MONA) was founded (in 1990 renamed Manitoba Nurses Union – MNU)[8] 1976 – Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union (NSNU) founded[9] 1977 – United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) founded[10] 1978 – New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU) founded[11] 1981 – British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) founded[12] 1981 – National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) founded by Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Saskatchewan[2] 1981 – NSNU joins NFNU[3] 1982 – NFNU joins the Canadian Health Coalition[2] 1985 – Staff Nurses’ Association of Alberta (SNAA) joins NFNU[3] 1987 – NFNU opens a full-time office in Ottawa and president becomes full-time position[3] 1987 – Prince Edward Island Nurses’ Union (PEINU) founded[13] 1987 – Fédération des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec (FIIQ) founded, in 2006 renamed Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)[14] 1992 – BCNU joins NFNU[15] 1998 – NFNU joins the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)[2] 1999 – United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) joins CFNU, after merging with SNAA[16] 1999 – National Federation of Nurses Unions (NFNU) renamed to Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)[2] 2000 – ONA joins CFNU[2] 2007 – The Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) joins CFNU as associate member 2011 – BCNU leaves CFNU and CLC[17] 2013 – Global Nurses United (GNU) is formed with CFNU as a founding member[18] 2019 – All CFNU Member Organizations affiliated with their provincial federations of labour[2] 2022 – BCNU begins process to re-join CFNU[19] 2023 - BCNU rejoins CFNU The CFNU, along with its member organizations, have championed a wide range of issues and causes, most often related to health care and nurses’ working conditions.

The CFNU works with parliamentarians, provincial premiers and health ministers, union members, other organizations and the public to raise awareness and drive policy.

Notable advocacy work includes: The CFNU also advocates for climate action, universal child care, justice and equity for Indigenous peoples, human rights and equitable access to health care for all, fair wages and retirement security for all workers, and other issues.