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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 16]
Domestic violence leave a great relief
Thursday, 4 April 2019, 9:40 am | First Union
The Domestic Violence - Victims Protection Bill allows those experiencing violence in their lives to up to ten days paid domestic violence leave per year to be able to better deal with the effects of domestic violence. More >>
Bus drivers will no longer be treated differently
Wednesday, 3 April 2019, 9:04 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union welcomes the changes to bus driver breaks as part of the implementation of the Employment Relations Amendment Act of which more changes come into effect next month. More >>
Hundreds of shoppers show support for a lift in pay
Monday, 1 April 2019, 12:18 pm | FIRST Union
The Pak n’ Save Picket for Decent Work at the Auckland Glen Innes store today (27/03/19) saw hundreds of customers filling out forms and handing them into checkout operators to show support for the hard work they do. More >>
Auckland Transport backlogged by complaints as crisis grows
Friday, 29 March 2019, 9:21 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union has obtained an email from a disgruntled bus passenger confirming an increased volume in complaints regarding bus services failing to deliver in the Auckland Region. The revelation comes amidst a number of bus operators and councils around ... More >>
St John angers staff with insensitive ad campaign
Tuesday, 26 March 2019, 4:10 pm | FIRST Union
Less than two weeks since the horrific terror attacks in Christchurch, St John has had to withdraw an appeal asking for donations they claim will go towards the paramedics who were the first respondents to the attacks. More >>
60 Alec Baldwin wielding workers take to the streets
Monday, 25 March 2019, 1:43 pm | First Union
A sea of 60 call-centre workers will stride through Britomart, downtown Auckland City today in their fight to share awareness of their pay and work conditions. More >>
Kia Kaha Migrants and refugees in Aotearoa
Sunday, 17 March 2019, 5:54 pm | FIRST Union
Union Network of Migrants(UNEMIG) and Indian Workers Association(IWA) strongly condemns the brutal and unprecedented terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand on innocent Muslims brothers, sisters and their children which resulted in 50 dead and many seriously ... More >>
It’s time for caring, peace and unity
Sunday, 17 March 2019, 2:54 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is rallying around those affected by the terrorist attack in Christchurch, and calling on employers to be mindful of the mental wellbeing of staff. More >>
Trade Union Supports Student’s Climate Strikes
Saturday, 16 March 2019, 1:23 pm | FIRST Union
Thousands of youth around Aotearoa will be joining the collective actions of other young people from almost 100 other countries around the world in walking out of school to strike for climate justice. More >>
Public transport woes in limelight at UN Womens Conference
Wednesday, 13 March 2019, 5:24 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union Assistant General Secretary and International Transport Workers’ Federation Delegate Louisa Jones has addressed attendees at a forum for the United Nations at its 63rd Commission on the Status of Women. The event is taking place at the United ... More >>
Employer appears more concerned about lawsuit than workers
Wednesday, 13 March 2019, 9:31 am | FIRST Union
Employer appears more concerned about a possible law suit by Alec Baldwin than its workers More >>
Employer appears more concerned about a possible law suit
Tuesday, 12 March 2019, 7:42 pm | FIRST Union
Employer appears more concerned about a possible law suit by Alec Baldwin than its workers More >>
Statement re bus driver shortage claimed by councils
Tuesday, 12 March 2019, 2:39 pm | First Union
“We have concerns that this is the second Regional Council that has sent out a release on behalf of a bus company that is claiming a driver shortage. In January the Bay of Plenty Regional Council announced a driver shortage with NZ Bus. It seems ... More >>
Road worker fatality
Tuesday, 12 March 2019, 12:24 pm | First Union
“Our hearts go out to the friends and whanau who will be dealing with this shocking news today. We do not know the full circumstances that have led to this fourth fatality inside a month, but it is a timely reminder to drive carefully around people working ... More >>
Bad attitude, Latitude: workers walk off the job
Tuesday, 12 March 2019, 9:30 am | FIRST Union
Workers at Latitude, the company that provides the GEM Visa credit card, will walk away from their call centre desks today (12/03/19) at 12pm over a pay offer that has not kept up with the times. The strike will run from 12 to 2pm with a picket ... More >>
International Women's Day: Bittersweet for Women in Retail
Saturday, 9 March 2019, 10:56 am | FIRST Union
International Women's Day: Bittersweet for Women in Retail International Women’s Day, dating back to 1911 and founded by women socialists and workers is cause to celebrate, but for many hard-working Kiwi women it’s also a reminder of the gender ... More >>
Ritchies Queenstown strike update
Friday, 8 March 2019, 7:31 pm | FIRST Union
Ritchies Queenstown strike update STATEMENT: The below can be attributed to FIRST Union Organiser Ken Young “I am hugely disappointed with Ritchies decision to personally threaten union drivers with a lock out, job loss and with removing their accommodation. ... More >>
Memorial for Union Stalwart Judy Attenberger
Friday, 8 March 2019, 8:24 am | FIRST Union
It is with heavy hearts that we bid farewell to another union stalwart, Judy Attenberger. More >>
The wheels on the bus go round and round...
Wednesday, 6 March 2019, 9:00 pm | FIRST Union
Bus drivers in Queenstown will now walk off the job over negotiations that are going nowhere and unsafe buses. Members at Ritchie’s Queenstown have voted to take strike action from midnight Thursday 7th of March to midnight Friday 8th of March. More >>
Work visa changes must include more open visas
Tuesday, 5 March 2019, 9:00 am | FIRST Union
An OIA and a survey conducted by Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) and the Indian Workers Association (IWA) shows the proposed immigration changes need to allow all temporary work visa holders to become more open work visas if we are to reduce the ... More >>
