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FIRST Union
Putting Workers First
FIRST Union is New Zealand's second-largest private sector trade union.
Formed in 2011 after the merger between the National Distribution Union and Finsec, FIRST Union represents 27,000 workers in the Finance, Industrial (Textile and Wood), Retail, Stores, Transport and Logistics sectors.
FIRST Union is also affiliated to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and runs several networks including the Union Network of Migrants, the Runanga, Fono and Womens' Committee. In 2015 FIRST Union launched Samoa First Union, Samoa's only private sector union.
Join FIRST Union today for higher pay, better conditions and more say at work.
FIRST Union - Latest News [Page 2]
Preliminary ComCom Report Confirms NZ Banks Amongst Most Profitable In The World
Thursday, 10 August 2023, 12:22 pm | First Union
A preliminary report by the Commerce Commission released today confirms that New Zealand banks are amongst the most profitable banks in comparable countries, based on the three main measures of bank profitability (return in equity, return on assets ... More >>
Westpac Workers Will Walk Off The Job
Wednesday, 9 August 2023, 6:36 am | FIRST Union
WHAT: Almost 900 FIRST Union members who work at Westpac will take strike action on Wednesday 8th August, with a nationwide 2-hour strike from 12:00-14:00 accompanied by full-day industrial action in certain stores around the country. Westpac workers More >>
Westpac Workers To Strike Next Week Over Low Pay
Wednesday, 2 August 2023, 10:59 am | FIRST Union
Over 800 FIRST Union members who work at Westpac banks around the country have voted to begin strike action next week after rejecting a low pay offer following five months of bargaining. Bill Bradford, FIRST Union organiser, said union members would nationally ... More >>
Modern Slavery Legislation Welcomed But Employer Due Diligence Is Crucial
Friday, 28 July 2023, 1:19 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union General Secretary Dennis Maga has welcomed this morning’s announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Carmel Sepuloni, that legislation will be brought forward to help end modern slavery in our country’s supply chains, ... More >>
Comments On Proposed Closure Of Belfast's Warehouse And Noel Leeming Stores
Wednesday, 19 July 2023, 1:50 pm | FIRST Union
Paul Watson, FIRST Union Southern Regional Secretary, commented on today's consultation meetings regarding the closures of The Warehouse Belfast, Warehouse Stationery Belfast and Noel Leeming Belfast: "FIRST Union will be closely scrutinising the business ... More >>
Auckland Bus Drivers Strike: Free Fares For Matariki As Protest Continues
Thursday, 13 July 2023, 11:13 am | FIRST Union
Auckland bus drivers are thanking the local community for their patience and support during industrial work stoppages this week, and announcing that NZ Bus-operated routes in Auckland with union drivers will be free for the Matariki public holiday this ... More >>
Supermarket Workers' Union Welcomes Fair Pay Agreement Acceptance
Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 4:01 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members who work in Aotearoa’s supermarkets are the latest group of workers to be formally accepted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to begin negotiations for a Fair Pay Agreement. "We’re delighted that ... More >>
More Than 95% Of Westpac Workers Reject ‘insulting’ Pay Offer, Will Vote On Strike Action
Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 10:21 am | FIRST Union
More than 95% of FIRST Union members have voted to reject a pay offer from Westpac bank and after 4 months of bargaining, they will vote on taking industrial action this week. Callum Francis, FIRST Union national finance organiser, said bank workers ... More >>
Auckland NZ Bus Strike To Continue As Company Refuses To Move
Monday, 10 July 2023, 4:02 pm | FIRST Union
Auckland NZ Bus drivers who are members of Tramways and FIRST Union will continue industrial action over the coming week, including morning work stoppages on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at seven Auckland depots, following today’s unsuccessful ... More >>
Frame And Truss Workers Still Waiting For Wage Agreement As Fletcher Machine Stalls
Monday, 10 July 2023, 12:38 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members who work at Fletcher subsidiary Frame and Truss, which is part of the Placemakers brand, say they have now been waiting over five months to sign a new wage agreement since their last one expired, and FIRST Union organiser Justin ... More >>
Why Auckland Bus Drivers Went On Strike Today
Monday, 10 July 2023, 12:11 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the largest bus drivers’ union in Aotearoa, says this morning’s bus strike of seven NZ Bus depots in Auckland was necessary and successful, and is challenging "misleading" claims by the employer (NZ Bus) and Auckland Transport ... More >>
Pak'nSave Royal Oak Workers To Stage Lunchtime Picket Over Low Wages And Understaffing
Friday, 30 June 2023, 8:28 pm | FIRST Union
What: FIRST Union members from Pak'n'Save Royal Oak in Auckland will stage a lunchtime picket, seeking community support for better wages and conditions in their local supermarket When: Saturday 1 July, 12:00-13:30 Where: Pak'n'Save Royal Oak, 691 Manukau ... More >>
Banks Must Consider Social Licence As Real Wage Cuts Underwrite Profits
Tuesday, 20 June 2023, 2:49 pm | FIRST Union
In light of today’s confirmation that the Commerce Commission will carry out a market study into New Zealand’s banking sector, FIRST Union - the union for bank workers - is asking banks to consider their social licence. Edward Miller, FIRST ... More >>
Students Overthrow Compulsory Military Training
Friday, 9 June 2023, 8:20 am | First Union
OHMS! Protest! A Celebration of Resistance, our documentary focusing on the power of activism, screens at the Doc Edge festival in Wellington this week. The Vietnam War is raging. The Americans are there, boots and all. Here the streets are filled ... More >>
Uber To Try An Appeal - But Drivers Say They Will Win It
Thursday, 8 June 2023, 3:33 pm | FIRST Union
Today’s Court of Appeal’s decision, which will allow ridesharing multinational Uber to seek to appeal last year’s Employment Court decision regarding the employment status of four current and ex- drivers, is not an unexpected development and will ... More >>
Reserve Bank Exacerbating Cost Of Living Crisis
Wednesday, 24 May 2023, 3:44 pm | First Union
Today’s 25 basis point hike of the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will further exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for NZ households, according to FIRST Union. "It's deeply troubling to see the Reserve Bank continue to hike rates in response to a ... More >>
Budget 2023: Boost Benefits And Support The Vulnerable With A Fairer Tax System
Wednesday, 17 May 2023, 12:04 pm | FIRST Union
Tomorrow’s Budget should aim to support working people during the cost of living crisis by committing to boost benefits, extend universal public services like half-price public transport fares, and to properly fund Fair Pay Agreements. This should be ... More >>
Bank Workers Not Seeing Record Profits Reflected In Their Wages
Friday, 21 April 2023, 9:23 am | FIRST Union
Bank workers in New Zealand have not received pay increases that are anywhere near commensurate with continued profits of the ‘Big Four’ (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac) over recent years, and banks must use upcoming national bargaining periods to demonstrate ... More >>
Pay Increases For South Island Bus Drivers Ahead Of FPA Negotiations
Thursday, 6 April 2023, 5:53 pm | FIRST Union
Bus drivers in Dunedin, Christchurch and Timaru have all received pay increases over the last week following negotiation between unions, Government and regional councils, and FIRST Union Southern Regional Secretary Paul Watson says a pathway ... More >>
Out-of-touch Reserve Bank Putting Unemployment Ahead Of Wellbeing
Wednesday, 5 April 2023, 6:24 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is seeking answers on how rising unemployment, slower wage growth and less affordable housing can be squared off against the Government's commitment to the wellbeing of New Zealanders following today’s unexpected 50 basis point Official ... More >>
