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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 26]
$35,000 worth of underpayments exposed at Cotton On
Wednesday, 21 December 2016, 1:12 pm | FIRST Union
The retail workers union is advising Cotton On staff to check their pay is correct after discovering over $35,000 worth of underpayments at the company’s distribution centre. More >>
Hamilton bus drivers have wages deducted before Christmas
Wednesday, 21 December 2016, 12:11 pm | First Union
The union representing bus drivers at Pavlovich Coachlines in Hamilton is condemning the company for deducting money from drivers’ wages only days before Christmas. Drivers have taken two rounds of strike action this month over a poor pay offer in ... More >>
Train drivers condemn KiwiRail’s return to “dirty diesel”
Wednesday, 21 December 2016, 11:37 am | First Union
The union representing the country’s rail workers is condemning KiwiRail’s decision to replace the current electric locomotive fleet on the North Island Main Trunk Line with an overseas-made diesel locomotive fleet. “KiwiRail shouldn’t cut corners. ... More >>
Strike enters day 3 at advertorial company Brand Developers
Friday, 16 December 2016, 10:08 am | First Union
Distribution centre workers at Brand Developers TV Shop are entering their third day of strike action at the popular advertorial company with one worker warning Christmas deliveries may not reach customers unless company owner Paul Meier returns to the ... More >>
Retail workers celebrate Easter trading victory in Nelson
Thursday, 15 December 2016, 2:06 pm | FIRST Union
Local retail workers are welcoming the Nelson City Council’s decision to keep Easter Sunday a shop-free day as a “victory for family time.” “We took a group of local retail workers to the council vote and they were stoked after councillors decided ... More >>
Gib-board workers join Auckland “strike wave”
Thursday, 15 December 2016, 12:59 pm | FIRST Union
Approximately 50 workers from CV Compton, a Gib board distributor in Auckland, have walked off the job today and are protesting outside Fletcher Building’s head-office in Penrose. More >>
To end assaults hire more ambos, says paramedics union
Thursday, 15 December 2016, 10:26 am | First Union
The union representing 1000 St John Ambulance staff says the solution to attacks on ambos is to end the use of single-crewed vehicles, not a poster campaign. Members of Ambulance Professionals First (APF), New Zealand’s largest ambulance union, ... More >>
Auckland housing costs lead to "strike wave"
Wednesday, 14 December 2016, 1:34 pm | FIRST Union
Approximately 20 distribution centre workers at car parts supplier Brake and Transmission (BNT) have walked off the job today sighting low wages and sky rocketing housing costs as the cause. More >>
Free bus rides in Hamilton as drivers continue action
Wednesday, 14 December 2016, 11:06 am | First Union
Passengers on Pavlovich Coachlines in Hamilton will ride their bus for free tomorrow as 30 drivers renew strike action for fair pay and secure conditions. More >>
Strike: no transforma ladders or bambillo pillows
Wednesday, 14 December 2016, 10:46 am | FIRST Union
If you’ve ordered a transforma ladder or a bambillo pillow for Christmas, expect delays as distribution centre workers take strike action today for fair pay at the popular advertorial company Brand Developers TV Shop. More >>
Striking ambos win meal break changes
Thursday, 8 December 2016, 11:21 am | FIRST Union
The union representing more than 900 ambulance officers says its members are pleased that St John has announced to staff it will begin interpreting the meal break provision differently, but they’re renewing their calls for more staff to help relieve escalating ... More >>
No Hamilton bus service as drivers take action for fair pay
Thursday, 8 December 2016, 10:25 am | FIRST Union
Approximately 30 drivers at Pavlovich Coachlines in Hamilton are taking strike action today as the bus company refuses to pay fair wages to the drivers who keep the company running. More >>
Ethical food supplier anything but ethical
Tuesday, 6 December 2016, 10:35 am | FIRST Union
Approximately 15 distribution centre workers at Ceres Organics, an ethical food supplier, are taking strike action today as the company refuses to negotiate over wages, redundancy and overtime rates. More >>
Ambulance officers step up strike, refuse to attend events
Friday, 2 December 2016, 4:23 pm | First Union
From 17 December 2016 more than 800 Ambulance professionals in the North Island will undertake an ‘events ban’ and refuse to provide cover for summer events like Christmas in the Park. More >>
Wage rises aren’t meeting housing costs – striking worker
Friday, 2 December 2016, 12:30 pm | First Union
Approximately 20 distribution centre workers at Blackwoods Protector, a company supplying industrial equipment, are taking strike action today as workers worry about how the company’s poor pay offer will impact their ability to sustain a family. More >>
Tasman region abandons Easter trading plans
Thursday, 1 December 2016, 4:44 pm | First Union
The union for working people in retail is welcoming the Tasman District Council’s decision to protect family time on Easter Sunday. More >>
State housing sell-off could force families onto the street
Friday, 25 November 2016, 11:30 am | First Union
25 November 2016 Christchurch state housing sell-off could force families onto the street – union More >>
Pumpkin Patch workers lose health insurance
Thursday, 24 November 2016, 9:15 am | First Union
In another blow for workers at failed children’s retailer Pumpkin Patch, some workers have discovered their insurance cover could be void after the company receivers confirmed Pumpkin Patch had not paid workers’ insurance premiums for the year August ... More >>
No buyer found for Pumpkin Patch, head office staff to go
Tuesday, 22 November 2016, 3:02 pm | First Union
The union representing distribution centre workers at Pumpkin Patch is calling on the company receiver, KordaMentha, to guarantee that head office workers will receive their full entitlements after they learned in a meeting today many of them could ... More >>
Working people call on Dunne to vote down TPPA Bill
Tuesday, 8 November 2016, 2:58 pm | FIRST Union
As the Government drives the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Amendment Bill through its committee stages in Parliament this afternoon, a union representing 27,000 working people is calling on United Future leader Peter Dunne to side with the 52 ... More >>
