Nova Scotia Nurses' Union

The Nova Scotia Nurses' Union (NSNU) was officially founded on June 15, 1976.

Fifty years ago today, a small group of pioneering nurses, and a handful of staff, established the first bargaining agent exclusively for nurses in our province.

The NSNU quickly grew from a mere 600 members to over 9,000 nurses working in acute, long-term, and community care settings today. The Nurses’ Union is deeply proud of the selfless and determined individuals who paved the way for countless activists and leaders to advocate for nurses’ rights, organize new members, and enforce collective agreements. We equally admire and respect those who tirelessly continue to carry the union torch for our revered nursing profession.

This weekend Cumberland Pride will hold their annual Pride Parade and Market in Amherst!

Join the celebration on Saturday at 2 PM as the Pride Parade begins in Victoria Square. The Square will also be home to Cumberland Pride’s popular Vendor Market from 11 AM to 4 PM. For more information, visit Cumberland Pride-Nova Scotia on Facebook.

Visit nsnu.ca/Pride2026 for more information on pride events in the province. 🌈

NSFL 2026-2027 Bursaries – Deadline July 3, 2026 – Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Please visit our Bursaries page for more information and to download applications!

Your lead table bargaining committee has reached a tentative agreement. At this point, all picket lines will stand down, and members will return to work as early as Monday morning. If the tentative agreement is not ratified, the strike will resume. See the full update below:

NSNU President Janet Hazelton is eager to start talks with employers to ensure Nurse Practitioners are paid appropriately and receive the respect they’ve earned. Thank you to NSNU’s Santina Weatherby for her role as an advisor on CFNU’s NP report.

Among the 37% of participants who are considering or planning to leave their current nurse practitioner position, 60% said that insufficient compensation is the main factor.

Learn more about our recommendations on how to strengthen the nurse practitioner workforce in our recent Pressure Points report here: https://nursesunions.ca/research/pressure-points-strengthening-and-retaining-canadas-nurse-practitioner-workforce/

This weekend West Hants Pride will hold their annual parade!

On Saturday at 2 PM, West Hants Pride will begin their Pride Parade at Victoria Park, heading towards the Windsor Waterfront. Visit westhantspride.ca for more details!

Come on out to show your support and solidarity for members and friends in the 2SLGBT2QI+ community! Learn about other pride festivals in Nova Scotia at nsnu.ca/Pride2026.

NSNU is proud to show our true colours.

Participating in Pride is one of the ways that the Nurses’ Union shows our ongoing support for the diversity of our membership. It is important that 2SLGBTQI+ nurses are visible and that the profession is considered a safe place for all. It is equally as important that nurses know the Union supports them.

Please reach out to [email protected] if you’d like to wear an NSNU Pride t-shirt at an event this summer. 🌈

If you or your Local is participating in any Pride activities, send your photos to [email protected]! 📸

That’s a wrap on Eastern Labour School 2026 hosted by the New Brunswick Nurses Union. 300 nurses from across the Atlantic provinces gathered in Fredericton for three days of networking and education.

Congratulations to New Brunswick Nurses Union (NBNU-SIINB) on an exceptional ELS, and great weather!

NSNU president, Janet Hazelton wishes to thank the100-plus NS members from all sectors of care who attended. In addition, several NSNU staff served as instructors for this biennial event which promotes leadership skills, the negotiating process, general labour relations, OH&S, duty to accommodate, nursing and the law, digital professionalism and nursing practice, communications and more.

As Janet says, ELS provides an opportunity for nurses to learn from experts in their fields and from each other.