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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 22]
Members bill to add a blanket of protection
Saturday, 26 May 2018, 11:50 am | First Union
Ambulance professionals are thankful those who assault first responders might in future receive tougher penalties. More >>
Council investigating Living Wage for Bus Drivers
Tuesday, 22 May 2018, 3:57 pm | FIRST Union
On Friday 18 May FIRST Union delegate Nat Tatana made a deputation to Waikato Regional Council Transport Committee about bus driver wages in the region. During his ten-minute presentation Nat expressed concern about the current wage rates for Bus Drivers, ... More >>
Funding could protect thousands of migrant workers
Thursday, 17 May 2018, 4:38 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union welcomes the Government’s announcement of 34 million dollars towards a beefing up of Labour Inspectors. More >>
Ritchies drivers in Auckland join bus strikes
Wednesday, 16 May 2018, 4:03 pm | First Union
Around 70 Ritchies Murphy drivers are to strike tomorrow morning as disputes over work and pay conditions roll to a stop. More >>
Union: Employees being asked to work without pay
Wednesday, 16 May 2018, 3:33 pm | First Union
FIRST Union has over the last 48 hours been collating complaints from union and non-union members in retail who allege their respective companies have been expecting (and in some instances asking verbally and in writing) employees to either stay back and ... More >>
Pavlovich bus drivers to strike in Auckland tomorrow
Tuesday, 15 May 2018, 10:35 am | First Union
Pavlovich drivers are again taking strike action as disputes over bus driver pay and work conditions continue to heat up with a handful of companies. Around 60 drivers will strike tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 16th May), and will instead be picketing ... More >>
FIRST Union response to Go Bus Hamilton
Sunday, 13 May 2018, 11:08 am | First Union
FIRST UNION response, comments can be attributed to Jared Abbott –Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing Secretary More >>
A win for Birkenhead bus drivers
Friday, 11 May 2018, 7:25 pm | First Union
Around 50 Birkenhead bus drivers on Auckland’s North Shore scheduled to take part in strike action have come to a satisfying arrangement with their employer. More >>
Kiwifruit Workers Alliance Launched
Wednesday, 9 May 2018, 5:12 pm | First Union
Kiwifruit Workers Alliance Launched While the business community’s response to a worker shortage in the Bay of Plenty is well known, workers who’re dealing with these issues every day have not yet had their say. In response to concerns workers ... More >>
FIRST Union refutes Go Bus claims over strike
Tuesday, 8 May 2018, 12:54 pm | First Union
FIRST Union is disappointed and astonished to find Go Bus throwing around factually incorrect statements as more drivers go on strike in its latest release titled ‘Union Action to Impact Otorohanga School Children’. More >>
Kiwifruit declaration – Union wants answers from government
Tuesday, 8 May 2018, 11:17 am | First Union
FIRST Union says the kiwifruit declaration is at odds with the Government’s regional development initiatives, and it’s also worrying for workers. More >>
Bus drivers in Te Awamutu and Otorohanga to strike tomorrow
Monday, 7 May 2018, 11:49 am | FIRST Union
Quiet, modest and semi-retired bus drivers are today talking picketing strategies following failed negotiations with Go Bus. Morale is high, but for most it’s their first strike. More >>
Increased employment doesn’t tell the whole story
Wednesday, 2 May 2018, 6:25 pm | First Union
Increased employment doesn’t tell the whole story Statistics New Zealand has released its latest employment figures showing an increase in the percentage of New Zealanders in employment. But there’s more to the story and for the sake of the wellbeing ... More >>
Union calls for Royal Commission into NZ banking practices
Wednesday, 2 May 2018, 3:41 pm | First Union
FIRST Union, the Union for finance sector workers, welcomes news that the Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank are looking into the business practices of New Zealand’s banks. The Union calls on the Government to go further, however, ... More >>
Government needs to consult with bus drivers
Thursday, 26 April 2018, 4:22 pm | First Union
Government needs to consult with bus drivers if it wants to get its transport plan right The government’s announcement of a whopping $28 billion dollars toward public transport today comes as another strike notice is issued from bus drivers. Birkenhead ... More >>
Global agreement signing good news for NZ Toll workers
Thursday, 26 April 2018, 11:41 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union attended the signing of a unique, global collective agreement with transport, logistics and warehousing giant, Toll. More >>
UPDATE: Auckland bus strikes tomorrow
Wednesday, 18 April 2018, 7:40 pm | First Union
NZ Bus strike at the Onehunga depot is CANCELLED, the rest of NZ Bus strikes are pending negotiations. More >>
Union members from yet another bus company to strike
Wednesday, 18 April 2018, 2:33 pm | First Union
Pavlovich drivers are the latest to take part in strike action as disputes over bus driver pay and work conditions continue to heat up. More >>
Bus drivers to strike across Auckland this week
Monday, 16 April 2018, 12:33 pm | First Union
Bus drivers across eight Auckland depots are to take part in rolling strike action set for eight days between the 17th and 27th of April in a push for fairer pay and work conditions from NZ Bus. The company’s attempting to cut overtime in new worker’s ... More >>
Union launches ‘Worth It’ campaign to help retail workers
Thursday, 12 April 2018, 1:26 pm | First Union
Many retail workers in New Zealand currently survive on minimum wage rates and don’t have enough hours of work to live on. Pay rates and work hours are so low that employers struggle to fill vacancies, and a pay crisis is already in effect as the average ... More >>
