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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 24]
Workers gutted after Dunedin votes for Easter Sunday trading
Monday, 11 December 2017, 4:10 pm | First Union
Workers “gutted” after Dunedin City Council votes for Easter Sunday trading Working people in Dunedin are “gutted” after the Dunedin City Council’s decision to allow Easter Sunday trading. That’s according to the union representing retail ... More >>
Fed-up truckies working 70 hour weeks - union
Monday, 11 December 2017, 8:56 am | First Union
The union representing the country’s truck drivers says low wages are forcing some truck drivers to clock working weeks up to 70 hours long. More >>
Union warns labour-hire ‘abusers’ after court finding
Thursday, 30 November 2017, 9:36 am | First Union
FIRST Union, the union representing thousands of labour-hire workers in the logistics industry, is warning major retail chains and logistics companies that the days of exploiting triangular employment arrangements are over. Triangular employment is ... More >>
Unions calls on Foodstuffs to pull store owners into line
Friday, 24 November 2017, 8:39 am | First Union
24 November 2017 Unions calls on Foodstuffs to pull store owners into line after ERA ruling The union representing workers at Foodstuffs South Island is calling on the co-operative’s CEO to pull rogue store owners into line after an Employment ... More >>
Workers win conversion rights for labour-hire workers
Monday, 13 November 2017, 10:58 am | First Union
A long-running dispute between Foodstuffs and its cold store distribution centre workers has been settled with union members winning conversion rights for the labour-hire workforce. More >>
“Protect family time,” Dunedin workers tell council
Monday, 13 November 2017, 8:38 am | First Union
13 November 2017 “Protect family time,” Dunedin workers tell council Union members and everyday Dunedin folk are preparing to gather outside the Dunedin Council Chambers at 9.15am today as the Easter trading debate goes to a council submissions hearing. ... More >>
Major changes at one of NZ’s largest trade unions
Thursday, 9 November 2017, 9:22 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the union representing 27,500 New Zealanders in retail, finance and transport and logistics, is undergoing major changes as its President, General Secretary and Retail and Finance Secretary deliver their retirement speeches in Auckland this ... More >>
Bus and train workers unite to protest Auckland Transport
Wednesday, 8 November 2017, 2:26 pm | First Union
Bus drivers and train managers are uniting on Friday morning to deliver two petitions to Auckland Transport protesting the degradation of both bus and train services. More >>
Workers pleased with incoming government’s employment policy
Tuesday, 24 October 2017, 3:48 pm | First Union
FIRST Union, the union representing 27,000 working people across New Zealand, welcomed the incoming government’s employment relations policy this afternoon. More >>
Over 100 Jobs at Risk in BNZ restructure - FIRST Union
Tuesday, 17 October 2017, 8:56 am | First Union
Over 100 jobs at risk in massive BNZ restructure - FIRST union More than 100 jobs are at risk at BNZ as the banking giant enters a “massive” restructure in its branch network. FIRST Union, the union representing workers at BNZ and the country’s ... More >>
South Auckland bus drivers misled into breaking road rules
Wednesday, 27 September 2017, 3:34 pm | First Union
A union representing bus drivers is calling on Auckland Transport to come down hard on South Auckland bus operator Go Bus after claims it misled staff into breaking the law. More >>
Supermarket wrongly blames workers for empty chicken shelves
Monday, 11 September 2017, 4:09 pm | First Union
A notice on display at Pak’n Save Clendon blaming previous industrial action for no chicken being available has angered workers at the company’s distribution centre. FIRST Union, the union representing the distribution centre workers, has documents ... More >>
Greymouth waste and recycling workers discarded
Monday, 11 September 2017, 10:34 am | First Union
The union representing waste and recycling workers in Greymouth is asking hard questions of the Grey District Council after the council’s waste and recycling workers were forced to re-apply for their jobs after a contract change. This year Smart Environment ... More >>
Workers celebrate decision to keep Easter Sunday shop-free
Thursday, 24 August 2017, 11:25 am | First Union
The union representing retail workers in Auckland is welcoming Auckland Council’s decision to protect family time and keep Easter Sunday shop-free. “This is a victory for retail workers and their families,” said FIRST Union Retail and Finance Secretary ... More >>
Orchard Workers Win the Right to Filtered Water on the Job
Thursday, 10 August 2017, 1:34 pm | First Union
Orchard Workers Who Were Told to Drink Irrigation Water Win the Right to Filtered Water on the Job More >>
Seven day strike at Foodstuffs distribution centre begins
Thursday, 3 August 2017, 10:46 am | First Union
Workers at CTD Nesdale, a Foodstuffs chilled and frozen food distribution centre in South Auckland, have walked off the job and are calling on their employer to do more to ensure temporary workers (“temps”) receive decent employment conditions. ... More >>
Labour’s employment policy gives working people something
Thursday, 29 June 2017, 1:06 pm | First Union
Labour’s employment policy gives working people something to vote for Media statement: 29 June 2017 Labour’s employment policy gives working peope something to vote for The 27,000-strong FIRST Union has described Labour’s newly Employment Policy as ... More >>
Mitre 10 chairman still embroiled in employment dispute
Friday, 26 May 2017, 1:19 pm | First Union
After more than three years of negotiations and court battles, union members at Jacks Hardware and Timber, trading as Mitre 10 Mega Dunedin and Mitre 10 Mosgiel, are still waiting to settle their first collective agreement as company owner and Mitre 10 ... More >>
There’s no bus driver shortage in NZ, says union
Tuesday, 16 May 2017, 5:27 pm | First Union
A union representing bus drivers is disputing the Bus and Coach Association’s claim that there is a bus driver shortage in New Zealand. More >>
Former Pumpkin Patch employees “over the moon”
Wednesday, 3 May 2017, 9:31 am | First Union
After almost six months of nervous waiting, former distribution centre staff at collapsed children’s retailer Pumpkin Patch are “over the moon” as KordaMentha confirms former staff at Pumpkin Patch Ltd (PPL) will receive their redundancy entitlements ... More >>
