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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 20]
Christchurch pallet workers living in dire straits
Sunday, 26 August 2018, 9:24 pm | First Union
Christchurch pallet workers living in dire straits as company continues to haul in big profits 50 Christchurch workers who restore pallets for the distribution of many of New Zealand’s well-known products will be striking tomorrow over minimal ... More >>
Concrete truck drivers strike in Auckland
Sunday, 26 August 2018, 1:18 pm | First Union
Concrete truck drivers strike in Auckland over hours, pay and the exploitation of fellow workers Around 10 concrete truck drivers in Auckland are striking on Monday over long hours, low pay and the exploitation of their fellow migrant workers. The ... More >>
It’s not just the bus conditions
Wednesday, 22 August 2018, 4:50 pm | First Union
It’s not just the bus conditions, drivers are peeing in buckets The plight of bus drivers in the Waikato region has only worsened since they began raising serious concerns with Go Bus at the beginning of the year. The 120 drivers from Hamilton, ... More >>
Businesses urged to utilise support employment agencies
Tuesday, 21 August 2018, 12:15 pm | First Union
Statistics New Zealand has released its disability figures for the labour market showing disabled people are three times less likely to be in work , and more than twice as likely to be unemployed or underutilised (work part time and would like ... More >>
Oh that’s where they get their profits from!
Thursday, 16 August 2018, 4:39 pm | First Union
Inequality: a kick in the guts for hard working New Zealanders Today the National Business Review released its Rich List. For the first time, the combined value of the rich listers has tipped over the $100 billion dollar mark, that’s up 26% from ... More >>
Retail sector a prime opportunity to close gender pay gap
Wednesday, 15 August 2018, 5:21 pm | First Union
Statistics New Zealand has announced today the gender pay gap is the second smallest since records began 20 years ago, 9.2 percent for the June 2018 quarter. The lowest was 9.1 percent in 2012. More >>
Quarry workers win fair pay deal!
Tuesday, 14 August 2018, 3:50 pm | First Union
Around 20 quarry workers and concrete truck drivers who began striking at the start of the month near the Brynderwyn Hills have today reached a settlement with Atlas Quarry that gives the group between $2 and $4 dollars more an hour. More >>
Farmers workers pledge opposition to labour-hire
Monday, 13 August 2018, 5:21 pm | First Union
Distribution workers at Farmers are taking a stand in solidarity with their labour-hire colleagues who do not receive the protection of the same terms and conditions of permanent work. Some labour-hire employees have been working at the distribution ... More >>
Waikato bus drivers strike over unsafe work conditions
Monday, 13 August 2018, 4:22 pm | First Union
Around 120 drivers from Hamilton, Otorohanga, and Te Awamutu will walk off the job tomorrow from 5:30am until midnight to show their frustration at low pay and bad work conditions. The drivers will gather for a picket outside the Hamilton Transport ... More >>
Migrant groups welcome new immigration changes
Thursday, 9 August 2018, 8:26 pm | First Union
Migrant groups welcome new immigration changes The Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG) and Indian Workers Association (IWA) welcome the new immigration changes announced today. We made submissions on behalf of migrants and requested migrants to also do ... More >>
FIRST Union welcomes Government probe into bus industry
Thursday, 9 August 2018, 8:02 pm | First Union
FIRST Union welcomes Government probe into bus industry in New Zealand Transport Minister Phil Twyford has announced a Government investigation into bus safety in New Zealand following three bus crashes within 10 days. He says the Ministry of Transport ... More >>
International students will protest unreliable PTEs
Thursday, 9 August 2018, 10:29 am | First Union
Around 20-50 International students will be picketing outside the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) offices in central Auckland tomorrow (Thursday 9/8/2018) at 12.30pm. More >>
Disgruntled international students will protest
Wednesday, 8 August 2018, 7:15 pm | First Union
Disgruntled international students will protest due to unreliable PTEs Around 20-50 International students will be picketing outside the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) offices in central Auckland tomorrow (Thursday 9/8/2018) at ... More >>
Lockout on quarry workers in Northland lifted
Wednesday, 8 August 2018, 4:42 pm | First Union
A lockout proposed to last until August 12 on quarry workers in the Brynderwyn Hills has been lifted. More >>
FIRST Union applauds ANZ
Wednesday, 8 August 2018, 12:44 pm | First Union
Following heated debate around sales targets in the banking sector in recent months, and years of campaigning by Union members, FIRST Union is very glad to see that ANZ has this morning announced the removal sales targets from its frontline retail staff. More >>
Quarry owner-operator locks workers out of work
Tuesday, 7 August 2018, 2:38 pm | First Union
In a very rare turn of events quarry workers in the Brynderwyn hills have been locked out of their work site until Sunday August 12. More >>
Bunnings agrees to pay Living Wage to staff
Tuesday, 7 August 2018, 10:52 am | First Union
FIRST Union retail members’ Worth It living wage campaign for retail workers has had its first major win. Due to the patience and perseverance of Bunnings union members at collective bargaining, the company has offered the Living Wage ($20.55) to staff. ... More >>
Red ribbon wraps its way around Aotearoa
Thursday, 2 August 2018, 4:36 pm | First Union
Red ribbon wraps its way around Aotearoa in solidarity of workers Worth It campaign As part of FIRST Union’s stop work meetings at 58 locations around the country (more than 5,300 attendees), retail workers will be signing one of our largest banners ... More >>
Quarry and concrete truck drivers strike for three days
Thursday, 2 August 2018, 4:13 pm | First Union
Approximately 20 Atlas Quarry workers and concrete truck drivers in the Brynderwyn hills are taking action over pay and hours over the next two days (started today). More >>
FIRST Union condemns brutal dispersal of workers
Wednesday, 1 August 2018, 6:57 pm | First Union
FIRST Union condemns brutal dispersal of workers in NutriAsia Philippines It’s alleged heavy-handed police have assaulted protesters and hired a mole to impersonate a protester with a gun to justify their inhumane and barbarous treatment of protesters. ... More >>
