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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 27]
Funding crisis forces ambulance staff to strike
Monday, 17 October 2016, 4:32 pm | FIRST Union
Over 1000 Ambulance officers across New Zealand have issued a 14 day notice of industrial action at St John Ambulance. More >>
Company directors must be held to account for exam failures
Friday, 23 September 2016, 4:59 pm | First Union
The directors of the International Academy of New Zealand (IANZ), an Auckland-based education provider accused of falsifying English language test results, should be held responsible for poor exam results, a migrant workers’ advocate said. More >>
Bank branch closures roundup
Thursday, 22 September 2016, 9:34 am | First Union
Westpac confirms it will close nineteen branches across the country; ANZ closes its Ngaruawahia branch and is consulting on plans to close six more branches; The bank workers union says many of its members are nervous about their futures and asking ... More >>
ANZ closes Ngaruawahia branch… proposes two more closures
Tuesday, 20 September 2016, 1:40 pm | First Union
The union representing working people at the country’s major banks says ANZ has confirmed it will close the Ngaruawahia branch while proposing closures at a further two branches. More >>
Five more regional bank branches could close
Wednesday, 14 September 2016, 1:33 pm | FIRST Union
ANZ is consulting on a proposal to close five branches across the country, said the union representing working people in the country’s major banks. More >>
Employer greed driving record immigration numbers
Tuesday, 6 September 2016, 2:02 pm | First Union
A union representing working people in the wood industry is disputing Prime Minister John Key’s assertion that immigration is needed to fill jobs New Zealanders are too lazy to perform. More >>
Easter Trading: Govt gives working people the middle finger
Thursday, 25 August 2016, 5:29 pm | FIRST Union
The union representing working people in the retail industry is condemning the Government for whipping its MPs to pass the controversial Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill. More >>
Ranfurly community to rally in support of Westpac workers
Thursday, 25 August 2016, 3:38 pm | First Union
Ranfurly community to rally in support of Westpac workers The Ranfurly community will take a stand tomorrow afternoon against Westpac’s proposal to shut the town’s only bank. “Westpac is consulting on a proposal to close 19 bank branches across ... More >>
Union offers 11th hour solution on Easter trading
Wednesday, 24 August 2016, 4:55 pm | FIRST Union
The union representing working people in retail is calling on the Government to withdraw the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill and convene a cross-sector working group to develop Easter trading laws the country can agree on. More >>
Poor migration laws and flawed tendering process
Monday, 22 August 2016, 2:39 pm | First Union
Poor migration laws and flawed tendering process a toxic mix for bus drivers - union Bus drivers could be the latest victims of poor government migration policy says Rudd Hughes, spokesperson for the Bus Drivers First section of FIRST Union. It was ... More >>
Union pickets Foodstuff’s Christchurch headquarters
Friday, 5 August 2016, 12:13 pm | First Union
The union representing working people in Pak’n Save and New World stores is picketing Foodstuff’s South Island CEO Steve Anderson after learning that some South Island supermarket workers are turning to charities for help feeding their families. More >>
Union applauds Green’s manufacturing announcement
Thursday, 21 July 2016, 2:34 pm | First Union
A union representing working people in the wood, textile and food sections of the manufacturing industry is applauding Green co-leader James Shaw’s announcement that the party will appoint a Minister for Manufacturing in a future government the ... More >>
‘Out of touch’ Government blocks Easter trading petition
Wednesday, 29 June 2016, 9:59 am | FIRST Union
The union representing retail workers is warning that the Government is out of touch with working people after passing the second reading of the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Bill, a law handing local authorities the power to permit trading on Easter Sunday. More >>
Wage gap remains at Foodstuffs stores in Nelson
Tuesday, 28 June 2016, 3:42 pm | First Union
More than six months after the union representing retail workers started recruiting members at New World Nelson and Pak’n Save Richmond, the local owners of the two supermarket giants are digging their heels in and refusing to negotiate fair pay ... More >>
Bidvest deliveries to stop as workers take action
Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 10:53 am | First Union
Bidvest deliveries to stop as workers take action Drivers and store workers at the South African-owned food distribution company Bidvest are taking strike action as the company refuses to negotiate a wage increase for workers in the Hawkes Bay. Approximately ... More >>
Ambulance service cuts will hurt – union
Tuesday, 26 April 2016, 10:35 am | FIRST Union
A proposal by St John Ambulance to reduce staff numbers will be an immense loss for both the community who use the service and the workers affected says FIRST Union, the union for Ambulance Professionals. More >>
Union welcomes Bunnings back down on in-store defibrillators
Wednesday, 30 March 2016, 12:34 pm | First Union
The union representing Bunnings workers is welcoming the company’s decision to install defibrillators in five stores, including in stores where staff-owned defibrillators were removed. More >>
Bus company using ratepayers’ money to breach employment law
Wednesday, 30 March 2016, 11:43 am | FIRST Union
The long running dispute between Auckland bus drivers and their employer is heading to the courts as FIRST Union, the union representing drivers at Howick and Eastern Buses, files two cases in the Employment Relations Authority against the East Auckland ... More >>
Disruption at Richmond PAK’nSAVE as workers strike
Thursday, 24 March 2016, 8:55 am | First Union
Workers responsible for filling shelves at the Richmond PAK’nSAVE are on strike this morninig in frustration at the supermarket’s continued refusal to bargain over pay rates and lift wages for low paid workers at the store. More >>
Bunnings dispute heads to the Employment Relations Authority
Friday, 18 March 2016, 11:33 am | First Union
“The ERA has accepted our application for facilitated bargaining. With the ERA supervising the process we’re confident we can break the deadlock on rostering,” says FIRST Union Retail and Finance Secretary Maxine Gay. More >>
