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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 28]
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 >>
Auckland bus drivers’ strike escalates
Wednesday, 16 March 2016, 1:05 pm | FIRST Union
Union members at Howick and Eastern Buses, the bus provider for much of East Auckland, will be refusing to take cash or hop card fares on Thursday (17 March) meaning a free ride for some passengers. More >>
Bunnings workers remove their aprons in nationwide strike
Tuesday, 15 March 2016, 3:42 pm | FIRST Union
Bunnings workers remove their aprons in nationwide strike Workers from 29 Bunnings stores across the country will taking action today and removing their signature aprons as part of ongoing strike action nationwide. “Workers will replace their aprons ... More >>
Union to take Auckland bus dispute to the Auditor-General
Friday, 11 March 2016, 2:46 pm | FIRST Union
Union to take Auckland bus dispute to the Auditor-General Drivers at Howick & Eastern Buses are pledging to continue their fight for fair pay and conditions as the drivers’ union, FIRST Union, prepares to write to the Auditor-General asking ... More >>
Action needed as report exposes DHL’s rule breaking
Monday, 7 March 2016, 10:33 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is echoing concerns raised about global logistics giant DHL after a new report found the company guilty of breaking its own – and international – rules on the way its workers are treated. More >>
Workers plan wage gap protest at Invercargill Pak’n Save
Friday, 4 March 2016, 11:24 am | FIRST Union
Workers and supporters from the Invercargill community are taking to the protest line as the owner-operator of Pak’n Save Invercargill refuses to negotiate new pay rates for workers, nearly of all whom earn up to $2 less than their colleagues ... More >>
Pan Pac workers commence health and safety strike
Thursday, 3 March 2016, 11:49 am | First Union
After ongoing health and safety breaches at Pan Pac Mill in Napier, workers from the lumber division have issued a health and safety strike notice effective from 10am today. More >>
Auckland bus drivers win court case
Wednesday, 2 March 2016, 11:56 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union and the Tramways Union have secured a judgment in the Employment Relations Authority holding that NZ Bus, the Auckland bus company whose drivers took city-wide strike action in February, was in breach of its consultation obligations under the ... More >>
Auckland bus strike escalates
Wednesday, 2 March 2016, 10:31 am | FIRST Union
Over 100 FIRST Union members from Howick and Eastern Buses are recommencing strike action as the company makes repeated attempts to remove overtime and weekend rates for drivers, says FIRST Union Bus Organiser Rudd Hughes. More >>
Government botches chance to jumpstart the economy
Monday, 29 February 2016, 3:32 pm | FIRST Union
Government botches chance to jumpstart the economy While the government confirms the minimum wage will rise 50 cents to $15.25 an hour, a trade union representing low paid workers is criticising the “meagre” increase as a missed opportunity ... More >>
Call for Review of Auckland Transport Tendering Process
Thursday, 18 February 2016, 2:11 pm | First Union
Media release from FIRST Union 18 February 2016 FIRST Union Assistant General Secretary, Karl Andersen says the Auckland Transport tendering process plays a big part in the industrial unrest in the bus industry. “There is an urgent need for them to review ... More >>
Strike at NZ Bus
Tuesday, 16 February 2016, 4:40 pm | FIRST Union
Unions representing NZ Bus workers are astounded at the statement of NZ Bus Chief Operating Officer, Shane McMahon, this morning that he did not know what NZ Bus drivers are wanting. Over 1000 bus drivers at NZ Bus will walk off the job on Friday for ... More >>
Union Will Continue Pickets at Foodstuffs Stores
Sunday, 14 February 2016, 2:17 pm | First Union
FIRST union will resume its pickets of Foodstuffs stores in Nelson today despite having its organisers arrested twice yesterday. More >>
Union Rat to Visit Nelson Foodstuffs Stores
Friday, 12 February 2016, 12:06 pm | First Union
The giant union rat will make an appearance at pickets organised by FIRST Union at the Nelson New World and Richmond Pak n Save this weekend. More >>
Rail and maritime workers’ condemn TPPA signing
Thursday, 4 February 2016, 10:13 am | FIRST Union
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) puts the rights and wellbeing of working people at risk, says Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) General Secretary Wayne Butson. More >>
Substantial minimum wage rise needed to boost spending
Monday, 1 February 2016, 2:22 pm | First Union
In the run-up to the annual minimum wage announcement, a union representing low paid workers is calling for a substantial increase to help boost spending and guard against deflation. “A 25 cent or 50 cent increase won’t cut the mustard for working ... More >>
Possible job or wage cuts in store for bus drivers
Friday, 29 January 2016, 2:46 pm | First Union
One of the unions representing Auckland bus drivers is “very concerned” to learn that NZ Bus and Howick and Eastern Buses have lost their contracts for units and runs in South Auckland. More >>
Local logistics workers strike to disrupt Nike supply chain
Tuesday, 22 December 2015, 11:01 am | FIRST Union
Approximately 20 workers from Toll Logistics’ Nike distribution centre in Auckland are commencing strike action today. The workers are striking over poor pay and to protest the company’s excessive use of labour hire employees. The company uses ... More >>
Greymouth rubbish and recycling workers to strike
Tuesday, 22 December 2015, 10:54 am | FIRST Union
Waste collection in the Grey District will be put on hold today as local rubbish and recycling workers strike in protest at their employer’s refusal to settle a collective agreement, says FIRST Union organiser Rachel Boyack. The workers are employed ... More >>
