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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 18]
Workers at Godfrey Hirst carpets down tools
Friday, 23 November 2018, 4:29 pm | First Union
The New Zealand workers who make carpets for commercial and residential use at what’s touted as one of the top carpet manufacturers in the world have reached a stalemate with the company over wages and overtime. More >>
Bus drivers begin to share their stories on the picket line
Monday, 19 November 2018, 3:46 pm | First Union
The 120 Waikato bus drivers who’ve started picketing the Go Bus lockout today have begun to tell their harrowing employment stories. More >>
Living Wage iwi lock out bus drivers
Sunday, 18 November 2018, 4:09 pm | First Union
Iwi owned Go Bus Ltd has today issued a lock out notice to drivers in Hamilton. From 5am tomorrow morning bus drivers will not be able to access their workplace and will receive no income. More >>
Bus commuters in Waikato ride for free as protest continues
Friday, 16 November 2018, 8:46 am | FIRST Union
Christmas comes early for bus commuters in the Waikato this year as around 120 bus drivers will refuse to accept payment from passengers. Passengers will be receiving free rides on services provided by Go Bus in Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga and ... More >>
Ambos open to further strike action
Wednesday, 14 November 2018, 9:02 am | First Union
Ambos open to further strike action as St John reluctant to request more Government funding for staff numbers and pay... More >>
Labour-hire firm adopts ethical standards in landmark move
Tuesday, 6 November 2018, 7:27 pm | First Union
Labour-hire firm adopts ethical standards in landmark move Along with a growing number of businesses requesting more ethical workforce solutions and evidence of loopholes in labour-hire law that allows the gross exploitation of hard-working New Zealanders, ... More >>
Union releases Work Passport for Migrant Workers
Tuesday, 6 November 2018, 4:03 pm | First Union
FIRST Union and its affiliates; the Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) and the Indian Workers’ Association (IWA) have released a handbook for migrant workers in New Zealand to share with their friends and families to help protect migrant workers ... More >>
New recommendations welcomed by finance union
Monday, 5 November 2018, 3:36 pm | FIRST Union
New Zealand bank review: recommended removal of sale targets and tighter government regulations welcomed by finance union More >>
Ambulance workers strike won’t risk patient safety
Thursday, 1 November 2018, 2:41 pm | First Union
Nearly a thousand ambulance professionals employed by St John have voted to take a sophisticated series of strike actions to ensure patient safety is not put at risk. More >>
Global food giant Bidfood fall foul of Employment Authority
Monday, 29 October 2018, 5:10 pm | First Union
If you bought lunch today it’s likely you’ve eaten food they’ve delivered. One of New Zealand’s largest wholesale food delivery companies (that delivers to restaurants and cafes) has just been slapped on the wrist by the New Zealand Employment ... More >>
National bus strike Tuesday: Drivers call for new standards
Monday, 22 October 2018, 9:20 am | First Union
Around a hundred drivers will take strike and picket action in Auckland while another hundred will strike and picket in the Waikato. Meanwhile bus drivers in Wellington will begin their indefinite strike on the same day (Tuesday, 23rd October). More >>
MPs agree there’s much more to do on safety in forestry
Thursday, 11 October 2018, 4:34 pm | First Union
Politicians have responded with shock to revelations from forestry and wood processing workers at a symposium on the future of work in the industry. More >>
Future of Work for NZ's Forestry and Wood Processing
Thursday, 11 October 2018, 12:47 pm | First Union
A symposium to start a discussion on the future of work in forestry and wood processing has shown New Zealand is sitting on a mountain of un-tapped opportunity. More >>
Major stationery provider agrees to talks
Friday, 5 October 2018, 11:23 am | First Union
Yet another company has returned to the negotiation table following strike action taken by working people, the latest of which is one of New Zealand’s major stationery brands; Winc New Zealand. More >>
Go Bus forces members to strike to hold meeting
Wednesday, 3 October 2018, 4:03 pm | First Union
Over 100 bus drivers in the Waikato region had to take strike action today in order to meet to discuss the wage negotiations. Their employer, Go Bus, denied the drivers time away from work to meet regarding facilitated negotiations in Auckland despite ... More >>
Bus drivers strike in Waikato for the fourth time
Tuesday, 25 September 2018, 2:01 pm | First Union
Bus drivers strike in Waikato for the fourth time as ERA is brought in to assist talks Over a hundred drivers in the Waikato region will once again carry out strike and picket action (for the fourth time in relation to this round of bargaining) tomorrow ... More >>
Would you like a serving of unethical business practice
Sunday, 23 September 2018, 11:25 am | First Union
Summer isn’t far off and the tomatoes are just about ripe for the picking for the BBQ season but... More >>
Union outlines how to ease the struggles of labour-hire work
Thursday, 13 September 2018, 10:21 am | First Union
FIRST Union, the union representing over 2,500 labour-hire workers, has made its submission on behalf of workers to the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill today to a receptive committee as part of the Union’s Real Work ... More >>
FIRST Union’s Dennis Maga responds to misinformation
Wednesday, 12 September 2018, 7:25 pm | First Union
FIRST Union’s Dennis Maga responds to misinformation around the ERA and MECAs – invites Winston Peters and Shane Jones to lunch More >>
Christchurch pallet workers to picket once again
Wednesday, 12 September 2018, 6:30 pm | First Union
Christchurch pallet workers to picket once again over dismal pay rates – food parcels pour in from community 50 Christchurch workers who restore pallets for the distribution of many of New Zealand’s well-known products and who are striking ... More >>
