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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 10]
Regional Banking Hubs Trial Offers A Model For The Whole Country
Tuesday, 3 November 2020, 8:11 am | First Union
FIRST Union has welcomed the announcement that Regional Banking Hubs will be trialled in four regions around New Zealand, and says the trial could offer a useful model for the rest of the country as we seek to maintain face-to-face services, retain ... More >>
Countdown Customer Care Strike Continues As Frustration Grows
Tuesday, 27 October 2020, 1:32 pm | First Union
Countdown customer care specialists who deal with the supermarket’s online orders are taking partial strike action today and withdrawing labour relating to online shopping as anger grows among workers at the company’s comments about pay and value, ... More >>
Heartland Bank Workers Take Strike Action In Auckland Over Low Pay Rates
Tuesday, 27 October 2020, 12:04 pm | FIRST Union
Workers at Heartland Bank in Auckland are taking strike action today and walking off the job after unsuccessful negotiations with the employer have failed to result in meaningful increases to wages that union officials say are well below market rates, ... More >>
Pak’n’Save Whakatane Workers To Strike Over Lowest Supermarket Wages In Bay Of Plenty
Friday, 23 October 2020, 11:02 am | FIRST Union
Workers at Pak’n’Save in Whakatane are taking strike action today over fruitless negotiations with the store owner and low wage rates that fall below comparable industry standards and represent the lowest supermarket wages in Whakatane and the lowest-paid ... More >>
Thousands Of Union Members At Countdown Feel Effect Of First Paycheque Under New Rates
Thursday, 8 October 2020, 8:04 am | First Union
Over the last week, around 7000 FIRST Union members who work at Countdown received their first payslips under new rates agreed in a Collective Agreement signed with the employer last November that will see thousands moving onto living wages, transparent ... More >>
It’s Not Too Late - Govt Can Save Marsden Point By Partnering On A Just Transition
Monday, 5 October 2020, 12:24 pm | FIRST Union
Refining NZ have this morning confirmed that around 100 jobs will be cut as the first part of its Strategic Review concludes, but FIRST Union says that it isn’t too late to save more jobs, assets and infrastructure while transitioning to cleaner ... More >>
Pak’n’Save Workers To Strike After Five Years Waiting For A Deal
Friday, 2 October 2020, 11:19 am | FIRST Union
Workers at Pak’n’Save Richmond are taking strike action after five years of fruitless negotiation has failed to result in a Collective Agreement or a living wage, and FIRST Union says the lengthy impasse highlights the difficulty for supermarket ... More >>
Workers Dismayed As Warehouse Confirms Restructure To Proceed
Friday, 18 September 2020, 8:40 am | First Union
The Warehouse confirmed to workers in a series of meetings around the country that the organisation has decided to continue with its proposed restructure of 62 further Warehouse stores, despite overwhelming staff feedback that the plan will disadvantage ... More >>
Last Chance For Warehouse Workers
Friday, 11 September 2020, 8:15 am | First Union
Warehouse workers have presented their final feedback on corporate management’s restructure and redundancy process in a last-ditch attempt to save jobs and hours in 62 stores around New Zealand and are seeking public support to stop the restructure, ... More >>
Major Brands Forcing Staff To Use Sick And Annual Leave To Self-isolate As Subsidy Goes Untapped
Tuesday, 25 August 2020, 9:49 am | FIRST Union
Major retail and industry brands including Fletcher, Countdown, Lion and Bunnings are jeopardising the national pandemic response and exploiting their workers by forcing many to use sick leave and accrued annual leave instead of applying for the easily-available ... More >>
Resilience Projects To Benefit From Government Investment In Climate Change Protections
Tuesday, 11 August 2020, 12:10 pm | First Union
$100m in government funding for climate change protections and infrastructure comes at a welcome time where shovel-ready projects are needed to help New Zealand bounce back against Covid-19 and create sustainable jobs for Kiwis in the quarrying sector, ... More >>
Celebrate Collective Bargaining! How Bank Staff Have Paved The Way For Everyone On The Living Wage
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 3:43 pm | FIRST Union
With the recent news that all bank workers in New Zealand - including contractors, cleaners and other non-financial staff - will now be receiving the living wage, it is time to highlight the central role of collective bargaining in negotiating fair ... More >>
New Protections For Migrant Workers A Step In The Right Direction
Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 9:06 am | FIRST Union
Migrant workers and representatives from Migrante Aotearoa, FIRST Union and UNEMIG (Union Network for Migrants) have welcomed the outcome of the Government’s Temporary migrant worker exploitation review, stating that the changes to take place over the ... More >>
Warehouse Using Covid For Cover As Extensive Restructure Makes Everyone Worse Off
Monday, 20 July 2020, 9:30 am | FIRST Union
(FIRST Union comments on The Warehouse consultation and proposed restructure) "Unfortunately the Warehouse have done the disappointing thing and used Covid-19 to justify a bunch of operational business decisions that will leave hundreds of workers without jobs ... More >>
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 >>
