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 1]
FIRST Union Condemns Fletcher Attempt To Underpay Workers
Thursday, 2 April 2020, 1:44 pm | FIRST Union
Fletcher Building’s attempt to underpay workers during the lockdown by proposing progressive reductions in income over the twelve weeks of the Government’s subsidy is appalling behaviour from a major employer and represents the worst kind of wage ... More >>
Easter Trading: Be Kind To Supermarket Workers, Prime Minister
Tuesday, 31 March 2020, 11:39 am | FIRST Union
"Be kind to supermarket workers this Easter" is the message to Government from the union representing supermarket staff. "We make this call as the Government considers whether or not supermarkets should be open on Easter Friday and Sunday ... More >>
Essential? Here’s What Workers Deserve If A Business Wants To Stay Open
Tuesday, 31 March 2020, 11:02 am | FIRST Union
With the possibility of further relaxation to the criteria of businesses considered ‘essential’ and permitted to operate during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, FIRST Union is today providing a checklist of minimum working conditions and entitlements ... More >>
Supermarket Pay Rises Welcomed But All Essential Workers Are Worth A Living Wage
Monday, 30 March 2020, 12:17 pm | First Union
FIRST Union welcomes the announcements made by supermarket chains Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises that workers will receive lockdown pay increases but is cautioning that the details of these promises matter and all essential workers should be earning ... More >>
Migrant Workers Must Not Fall Into The Cracks During Coronavirus Pandemic Response
Tuesday, 17 March 2020, 10:25 am | FIRST Union
The Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG), Migrante Aotearoa and the Indian Workers Association (IWA) have highlighted the difficulties facing migrant workers in New Zealand due to the coronavirus pandemic and are calling on the Government to include ... More >>
Stop Blaming Migrants And Victims Of Exploitation For Votes – Union Network Of Migrants
Wednesday, 11 March 2020, 11:40 am | Union Network of Migrants
General elections are upon us and some would hope that this time politicians won’t use vulnerable groups of communities (migrants) as scapegoats to mislead and gain votes in this election again. Unfortunately, the trend appears to be repeating again. ... More >>
COVID-19 Highlights Precariousness Of The Gig Economy, Says Uber Driver
Monday, 9 March 2020, 2:02 pm | FIRST Union
The global spread of coronavirus is highlighting major flaws with the ‘gig economy’ and employment law, as workers like Uber drivers are denied basic rights like paid sick leave due to their status as contractors rather than employees, FIRST Union ... More >>
Workers To Foodstuffs South Island: We Want A Collective Agreement!
Wednesday, 4 March 2020, 3:56 pm | FIRST Union
Workers at Pak’n’Save Richmond and New World Centre City in Dunedin are taking industrial action today as part of their struggle for living wages and better employment conditions, FIRST Union said today. After waiting over three years to sign a collective ... More >>
UPDATE: NZ Bus Strike Action In Auckland Postponed
Tuesday, 3 March 2020, 2:39 pm | FIRST Union
Strike action proposed for tomorrow morning by NZ Bus union members has been postponed following an agreement from the company to attend mediated bargaining this week, FIRST Union said today. "This is an opportunity for the company to present a ... More >>
Bus Strikes To Continue As NZ Bus Decline Offer To Meet
Tuesday, 3 March 2020, 11:10 am | FIRST Union
NZ Bus drivers in Auckland will continue industrial action via rolling strikes from tomorrow morning after the company declined the unions’ offer to meet for bargaining yesterday, FIRST Union said today. "Unfortunately, we have made very little ... More >>
Unions Offer To Withdraw Tomorrow’s Strike If NZ Bus Drops Clawbacks
Monday, 2 March 2020, 5:44 pm | FIRST Union
New Zealand bus drivers in Auckland have offered to withdraw a strike notice issued for tomorrow if their employer, NZ Bus, is willing to immediately return to the negotiating table and drop their attempts to clawback hard-won terms and conditions from Auckland ... More >>
Employers Can Make The Difference In Stopping Spread Of Coronavirus In New Zealand
Monday, 2 March 2020, 2:56 pm | FIRST Union
A combination of common sense, empathy and practicality is required from employers in New Zealand to help halt any spreading of coronavirus and look after the retail workers who could end up putting themselves in harm’s way, FIRST Union said today. ... More >>
Report Shows Way To Support Workers Suffering After Coronavirus Job Losses
Monday, 2 March 2020, 2:36 pm | FIRST Union
The Government needs to look no further than the Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s report when considering how to effectively use the social welfare system to assist workers laid off due to the impact of the coronavirus (Covid 19), said FIRST Union ... More >>
FIRST Union Takes Aim At Exploitative ‘gig Economy’
Wednesday, 19 February 2020, 10:32 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union’s Real Work Real Jobs campaign is expanding its focus to include ‘gig economy’ workers like Uber drivers and dependent contractors, with the public release of the union’s submission on the Government’s Better Protections for Contractors ... More >>
National Party’s Minimum Wage Bluster Helps No One At All
Tuesday, 18 February 2020, 1:27 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union General Secretary Dennis Maga says that this morning’s comments from National Party Finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith that the party would consider scrapping the Government’s proposed minimum wage increases if elected ... More >>
NZ & Australian Unions Write To Tear Fund: Cotton On Is Not A Living Wage Employer
Tuesday, 11 February 2020, 6:52 am | First Union
Representatives of FIRST Union and the Australian United Workers Union have this week written to the Tear Fund , producers of the yearly NZ Ethical Fashion Guide , to question the grading of multinational Australian fast fashion retailer, Cotton ... More >>
Cotton On blindsides workers
Thursday, 23 January 2020, 2:05 pm | FIRST Union
Workers at neighbouring Cotton On and Cotton On Kids stores in Porirua’s North City Shopping Centre say they are worried about their futures after the multinational chain closed their workplaces this week without providing clarity on if and how they ... More >>
Cotton On: living wage banner unfurled in Manukau mall
Wednesday, 22 January 2020, 3:42 pm | FIRST Union
A large banner calling for workers to be paid a living wage was unfurled in Manukau Westfield Shopping Centre today, as multinational fast fashion chain Cotton On continues its refusal to negotiate with union members, despite ongoing strike action across ... More >>
Government must end exploitative ‘forum shopping’ practice
Tuesday, 21 January 2020, 10:51 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is today calling on the New Zealand Government to intervene in the shocking case of a Filipino migrant worker and carpenter who, until Monday last week, was unable to return to his fixed employment in New Zealand after his former employer, ... More >>
Bridges must condemn human rights abuses in the Philippines
Monday, 20 January 2020, 8:18 am | FIRST Union
The current Simon Bridges led National Party delegation to the Philippines will be a failure if it does not raise the issue of Human Rights and condemn the extra-judicial killings occurring there according to two New Zealand members of an International ... More >>
