Global Nurses United

Nurses marching down street holding banner "GLobal Nurses Solidarity"

Global Nurses United (GNU) is a federation of nurse and health care worker unions in more than 30 nations, coming together to step up the fight against austerity, privatization, and attacks on public health—and to work for nurses’ and workers’ rights and improved patient care for all.

Nurse smiling, holding sign "Our Planet, Our Health"

Global nurses’ proposal to address the health impacts of climate change

Nurses are dedicated to protecting the public health of our communities. It is clear to us that our health care systems and infrastructure are not currently prepared to adequately respond to the health challenges that will result from the changing climate. We call on governments to commit to our proposals in order to mitigate the climate crisis and increase health care systems preparedness.

Read the GNU proposal in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Korean.

Press releases

Nurses marching, holding banner that reads "Global Nurses Solidarity" and sign that reads "Our Planet, Our Health"

Nurse union leaders from around the world demand governments address health impacts of the climate crisis

At a briefing for members of the global press, Global Nurses United (GNU), the premier federation of global nurse unions, released a statement urging governments to take action against the health impacts of climate change, in advance of international climate negotiations at COP28.
Global Nurses United delegates meeting in San Francisco

Nurse union leaders from around the world speak up on the growing health impacts of the climate crisis

Global Nurses United will host a virtual press briefing for members of the global press on Wednesday, November 29. Nurse union leaders will detail the growing health impacts of the climate crisis in their respective countries in advance of the beginning of COP28.
Large convention hall full of nurses seating at tables with their international flags

Global Nurses United celebrates successful meeting on pandemic policy and climate change

More than 250 nurses from 33 countries across six continents gathered to discuss the ongoing impacts the Covid-19 pandemic has had in their countries, as well as their current and future concerns about health impacts of the pervasive problem of understaffing in hospitals and clinics around the world and the climate crisis.
The National Congress of Brazil

Global Nurses United condemns acts of terrorism and political violence on Brazil’s capital 

Global Nurses United, representing more than 2.5 million nurses and other health care workers in 29 countries around the world, vehemently condemns yesterday’s violent anti-democratic attacks on the National Congress, Federal Supreme Court, and Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil.
All GNU press releases

Videos

Global nurses united in solidarity

Leaders of GNU convened in July 2019 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to discuss issues faced by nurses around the globe — and strategies to confront them.

Nurses call for global solidarity to confront the climate crisis

Nurses are on the front lines of responding to the health impacts of climate change around the world. Now more than ever we need an international approach to taking on these crises.

Global Nurses United includes the following unions:

Angola

  • Sindicato Nacional dos Enfermeiros de Angola (SINDEA)

Australia

Brazil

Burundi

  • Syndicat National du Personnel Paramédical et D’Appui de la Santé Publique

Canada

Chile

Costa Rica

Curaçao

  • Curaçaose Bond van Werknemers in Verplegende en Verzorgende Instellingen (CBV, Curaçao)

Dominican Republic

  • La Asociación de Enfermería del Instituto Dominicano de Seguros Sociales
  • Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Enfermeria

France

Guatemala

  • Sindicato Nacional de los Trabajadores de Salud de Guatemala

Greece

Honduras

  • Asociación Nacional de Enfermeras y Enfermeros Auxiliares de Honduras (ANEEAH)

India

Ireland

Israel

  • National Association of Nurses

Italy

Japan

Kenya

Malawi

New Zealand

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Portugal

Rwanda

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

  • Government Nursing Officers' Association

Taiwan

  • Taiwan Nurses Union

Turkey

Uganda

United States

Uruguay

  • Sindicato Unico de Enfermeria del Uruguay

Articles

Zoom call with nurse representatives from around the world.

Nurse union leaders worldwide demand government action on health impacts of climate crisis

At a late November briefing for members of the global press, Global Nurses United released a statement urging governments to take action against the health impacts of climate change, in advance of international climate negotiations at COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Korean nurses holding signs calling for global solidarity

Nurses join forces globally to share information and take action on Covid-19 protections

Nurses have long known they face common threats all around the world, from short staffing to privatization of care. Now, a deadly virus with no borders — and lax guidelines on protections — have underscored the importance of standing together globally.
Large group of nurses on stage in front of banner "Global Nurses Solidarity Assembly"

A Whole New World

At the 2019 Global Nurses Solidarity Assembly, RNs and allies from across the planet envision a society based on care, not profit. Nurses and allies shared their stories of organizing, of challenges, and of victories in their struggle for health care, social, economic, and racial justice.