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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 12]
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 >>
Sudden closure of sawmill shows intervention needed
Tuesday, 14 January 2020, 3:58 pm | FIRST Union
Yesterday’s sudden announcement of the closure of Pacific Pine Industries Ltd, a timber processing and sawmill in Putaruru, has left its 60+ employees reeling. Staff were called in from their annual leave on Monday to a meeting where they were ... More >>
South Island Foodstuffs supermarket workers protest
Tuesday, 24 December 2019, 11:53 am | First Union
South Island Foodstuffs supermarket workers protest for living wage after ‘bargaining’ for three years Source: First Union More >>
Shocked workers learn of immediate Bunnings shutdowns
Tuesday, 24 December 2019, 6:17 am | FIRST Union
Workers at two Bunnings retail stores; Waikanae and Te Aroha, learned today that their stores are closing forever on 27 December 2019. More >>
Workers kick off nationwide living wage t-shirt protest
Friday, 20 December 2019, 9:14 am | FIRST Union
Cotton On retail workers throughout New Zealand kicked off a protest yesterday that will see FIRST Union members around the country proudly wearing "Cotton H(on)est - Living Wage" t-shirts at work until Christmas Eve in protest at the company’s ... More >>
Tip Top workers’ victory brings bread shortage to an end
Friday, 13 December 2019, 8:10 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members at George Weston Foods Ltd in South Auckland, who produce Tip Tip branded bread products, have reached a deal with the company after emergency negotiations that will end industrial action and bring a national bread shortage ... More >>
Council votes to intervene on NZ Bus driver suspensions
Thursday, 12 December 2019, 3:30 pm | FIRST Union
Today, at a meeting of Auckland Council’s Governing Body, councillors voted unanimously for a series of resolutions that will require greater direct involvement in resolving the ongoing dispute between unions and NZ Bus from Auckland Transport and the Minister ... More >>
Bus suspensions: drivers reject the same NZ Bus offer again
Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 6:52 pm | First Union
Over 800 FIRST Union and NZ Tramways Union members who drive buses for Auckland’s largest public transport operator, NZ Bus, met today and rejected the employer’s standing offer of a 2% pay rise, meaning driver suspensions are likely to continue ... More >>
Human rights abuses in the Philippines
Tuesday, 10 December 2019, 12:25 pm | FIRST Union
Today, December 10th, is Human Rights Day. It has been chosen by the International Trade Union Confederation to highlight human rights abuses of trade unions and labour activists in the Philippines. Two New Zealanders - Robert Reid, President of FIRST ... More >>
End the Christmas suspensions: protest at Auckland Transport
Sunday, 8 December 2019, 4:12 pm | First Union
End the Christmas suspensions: Hundreds of bus drivers to protest at Auckland Transport Source: First Union More >>
Free bus fares in Auckland to continue until Christmas
Friday, 6 December 2019, 8:20 am | FIRST Union
Drivers for NZ Bus will continue to offer free passenger fares as a partial strike action until Christmas, joining their colleagues at Go Bus, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Inghams workers wrap up 3-day strike
Thursday, 5 December 2019, 4:35 pm | FIRST Union
Food Processing workers at Inghams chicken processing plant in Wiri, Auckland, have just finished three days of full strike action after walking off the job over frustrating wage negotiations and missing backpay in a protest that some have dubbed the ‘McNugget ... More >>
NZBus drivers vote to join free fares strike from next week
Friday, 29 November 2019, 9:27 am | FIRST Union
Over 800 FIRST Union and NZ Tramways Union members who drive buses for Auckland’s largest bus company, NZ Bus, will be joining striking Go Bus drivers from Monday next week in not collecting passenger fares, meaning around half of all Auckland ... More >>
Nationwide protest marks beginning of Cotton On strike
Friday, 29 November 2019, 8:09 am | FIRST Union
Over 300 FIRST Union members at Cotton On throughout New Zealand will be beginning nationwide strike action this Friday in major centres, protesting the company’s refusal to provide a living wage to retail and distribution centre workers - or even ... More >>
Free fares on Go Bus services to continue in South Auckland
Wednesday, 27 November 2019, 10:12 am | FIRST Union
Go Bus drivers in South Auckland will continue their strike action over a bitter employment dispute with the company by offering free fares to passengers from this morning until Christmas Eve, FIRST Union said today. More >>
