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]
Statement On Philippines Anti-terror Laws From Community Leaders
Monday, 6 July 2020, 9:37 am | FIRST Union
A signed statement from community leaders and representatives of unions, churches, humanitarian groups, NGOs and others regarding new anti-terrorism legislation in the Philippines. The Philippines has one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the entire ... More >>
Regional Skills Leadership Groups A Good Step Forward
Thursday, 25 June 2020, 11:12 am | FIRST Union
"The establishment of Regional labour market bodies by the Government is a welcome if not long overdue step," said Dennis Maga, FIRST Union General Secretary, commenting on today’s Government announcement that 10 of the 15 proposed interim ... More >>
AMI Is Turning Its Back On New Zealand Communities - FIRST Union
Wednesday, 24 June 2020, 2:12 pm | FIRST Union
The union representing finance workers has described the proposal by insurance giant IAG to close all of its 53 AMI stores in New Zealand as irresponsible and short-sighted, warning that big companies like AMI are using the Covid-19 crisis to justify ‘unpalatable’ ... More >>
Employment Authority Rules Ritchies Discriminated Against Union Members
Friday, 19 June 2020, 6:57 am | FIRST Union
A significant ruling in the Employment Relations Authority (attached) was made yesterday in favour of FIRST Union, who argued that Ritchies Transport, a Government-contracted bus company with several major national contracts, has consistently discriminated ... More >>
Labour-hire Works Are Falling Between The Cracks During Pandemic Response
Thursday, 4 June 2020, 2:30 pm | FIRST Union
Labour-hire workers are falling between the cracks because neither the agencies they are employed by nor the host companies they work for want to take responsibility for them, FIRST Union said today. Dozens of agency workers have been contacting the ... More >>
FIRST Union Budget 2020 Comments From Dennis Maga, General Secretary
Thursday, 14 May 2020, 2:53 pm | First Union
FIRST Union Budget 2020 comments from Dennis Maga, General Secretary "Today’s ‘Workers Budget’, set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, has succeeded in its immediate aims of supporting businesses and New Zealand workers who are facing ... More >>
Thousands Of Supermarket Workers Petition Countdown And Foodstuffs Bosses: Pay Us Fairly For Level 3
Wednesday, 13 May 2020, 9:25 am | FIRST Union
Thousands of supermarket workers have signed a petition to the CEOs of Foodstuffs and Countdown, calling for the ten percent bonus to supermarket staff to be extended to cover the two-week period under the level-3 stage of lockdown, during which workers ... More >>
FIRST Union welcomes "land-mark" decision in courier case
Thursday, 7 May 2020, 2:43 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is describing today's decision by the Employment Court reclassifying a contract courier driver as an employee as a land-mark decision that will have a ripple effect throughout the industry. More >>
Migrant Groups Warn Of Impending Humanitarian Crisis Without Govt Support
Wednesday, 6 May 2020, 9:54 am | FIRST Union
The Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG), Migrante Aotearoa and the Indian Workers Association (IWA) are warning that the basis for a humanitarian crisis within New Zealand’s migrant workforce is developing following the Government’s refusal ... More >>
Fair Pay At Supermarkets To End - Calling On The Public To Support Our Workers
Friday, 24 April 2020, 7:40 am | First Union
"Countdown and Foodstuffs have confirmed that they’ll be ending the 10% bonus provided to essential workers during the level-4 lockdown beyond the coming week," said Tali Williams, FIRST Union Secretary for Retail, Finance and Commerce. "This ... More >>
How Is Fletcher Building Getting Away With This?
Tuesday, 7 April 2020, 1:42 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is today calling for immediate Government intervention following revelations that Fletcher Building, one of the nation’s largest employers and a major benefactor of the Covid-19 wage subsidy, has misled workers over their eligibility for urgent ... More >>
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 >>
