The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United
(CNA/NNU) – which has been
extremely active in recent months – has joined
forces with unions from 13 other nations to form Global Nurses United (GNU), an international
organization designed to fight "austerity measures,
privatization and cuts in health care services."
The organization was formed during a June 22 conclave in San
Francisco. Endorsers of the declaration include nurse and health
care worker unions from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa
Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Israel,
the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea and the United
States.
GNU plans to kick off its efforts with "actions in member
nations" in September coinciding with the opening of the next
session of the United National General Assembly. The new group
plans to "work collectively to guarantee the highest standards
of universal healthcare as a human right for all, to secure safe
patient