Keynote Speaker Inspires with Message of Solidarity and Safe Staffing
“Change is coming to British Columbia. Change is coming to BCNU.”
With these words, Catherine Kennedy, registered nurse and President of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association (CNA) wrapped up day one of BCNU’s 43rd convention on an inspiring note.
A nurse for over 45 years, Kennedy emphasized the deep bonds between Canadian and American nurses, and congratulated BCNU members on their fight for minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, calling the union a beacon of strength for nurses everywhere.
Kennedy shared the story of CNA’s hard-fought journey to implement safe staffing ratios in California – a battle that took more than a decade of grassroots organizing, member outreach, and political advocacy. She described the fierce resistance nurses faced from powerful hospital lobbies and political leaders, including former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
She told delegates that when Schwarzenegger attempted to roll back ratios, nurses responded by mobilizing Rapid Response Teams to protest at every public appearance he made – forcing the government to back down. Despite political opposition and corporate resistance, California’s ratios eventually succeeded, and helped spark similar movements in other states including New York, Minnesota, and Maine.
Kennedy recalled her early days as one of two nurses caring for 48 patients working a night shift on a medical surgical unit and described the heartbreaking conditions nurses endured before ratios became law in her state. Her message was clear: safe staffing levels save lives, reduce stress, and restore the humanity in nursing.
Looking ahead, she warned that new global challenges like climate change and artificial intelligence pose serious threats to health-care systems and workers. She stressed that legislated ratios are more important than ever to ensure that, amid increasing demand and complexity, staffing levels remain safe, and patients continue to receive quality care.
Kennedy closed her presentation by urging BC nurses to “keep the fire alive,” reminding them that collective action and persistence are the keys to real change. “You can do this,” she said. “Your fight is our fight – and we are with you every step of the way.”