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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 34]
Leaked Agreement would lock in failed neoliberal model
Friday, 20 June 2014, 1:56 pm | First Union
Today Wikileaks released the secret draft text of the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Financial Services Annex, ahead of the next round of TISA negotiations in Geneva next week. More >>
Union shocked at Postie Announcement
Thursday, 19 June 2014, 9:38 am | First Union
Union shocked at Postie Announcement The announcement of Postie Plus Group Limited (Administrators appointed) late Wednesday that it is closing 12 stores and making 64 staff redundant has been greeted with shock by FIRST Union, which represents Postie ... More >>
Review Panel reflects union concerns about forestry safety
Friday, 6 June 2014, 2:46 pm | First Union
The union representing forestry workers feels vindicated that its concerns have been reflecting in the Public Consultation Document released today by the Independent Forestry Safety Review. More >>
Postie Plus Group’s administrator must put workers first
Tuesday, 3 June 2014, 12:23 pm | First Union
The union representing retail workers is saddened but not surprised by today’s announcement that Postie has gone into voluntary administration. There are 82 Postie stores nationwide, and existing employees have been told that they will remain in ... More >>
Northland petrol tanker drivers back at work
Wednesday, 28 May 2014, 1:38 pm | First Union
Northland petrol tanker drivers back at work Northland petroleum tanker drivers at Toll Carriers are back on the job after successfully achieving a collective agreement and pay rise. Yesterday afternoon FIRST Union members ratified a new collective employment ... More >>
Murray Horton speaks on GCSB and TPPA in Wellington tonight
Wednesday, 28 May 2014, 11:01 am | First Union
Anyone interested in issues such as asset sales, corporate tax avoidance, GCSB surveillance and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement are being invited to head along to see Murray Horton speak tonight in Wellington. His talks are always lively and informative. More >>
Wages and truth casualties in Toll’s drive to clear name
Thursday, 22 May 2014, 12:08 pm | First Union
Wages and truth both casualties in Toll’s drive to clear name Recent comments by Toll on an industry website would not stand up to independent scrutiny, says the drivers union. The article, on the website Dieseltalk.co.nz, accuses the union of ... More >>
Community and global support growing for striking drivers
Thursday, 22 May 2014, 9:29 am | First Union
Community support for the striking Toll/BP drivers is growing, and supporters are keen to see an end to this dispute so the workers can return to the job. Yesterday around 60 workers and community supporters picketed the Waterview BP station in Auckland, ... More >>
Pickets to step up as Toll refuses to budge on wage increase
Tuesday, 20 May 2014, 12:48 pm | First Union
Striking petroleum drivers have decided to step up protest action after talks between Toll and FIRST Union failed to reach a settlement. Despite ongoing industrial action, Toll failed to put forward a decent wage offer for the drivers in discussions held ... More >>
Budget reinforces absurdity of KiwiRail turnaround plan
Thursday, 15 May 2014, 4:55 pm | First Union
Today’s Budget reinforces the absurdity of having our national rail network in its current commercial structure, the rail union said today. Budget 2014 allocated additional money for the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan for costs including earthquake ... More >>
Pickets of BP service stations suspended - talks with Toll
Thursday, 15 May 2014, 9:43 am | First Union
Pickets of BP services stations due to get underway this afternoon in Wellington and Christchurch have been suspended following developments late yesterday. A small group of petroleum tanker drivers at Toll Carriers in Northland have been taking ... More >>
Global union weighs in on NZ dispute
Wednesday, 14 May 2014, 11:02 am | First Union
The global union representing workers in the petroleum industry has weighed in on a New Zealand industrial dispute, showing its support for striking Toll/BP drivers. IndustriALL Global Union, which represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in ... More >>
Demonstrations in support of striking Toll/BP drivers
Tuesday, 13 May 2014, 4:57 pm | First Union
Pickets at BP services stations in support of striking Northland Toll/BP drivers will spread nationwide this week, as actions are being planned in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. More >>
A CoOL Policy
Friday, 9 May 2014, 10:06 am | First Union
A CoOL Policy FIRST Union has congratulated Labour MP, Damien O’Connor, for introducing an amendment to the Food Bill that would see New Zealand introducing Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for all food sold in New Zealand. “This marks a further departure ... More >>
Pay rates a part of the solution for truck driver shortage
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 12:46 pm | First Union
The drivers’ union is supporting moves for enhanced training and development for truck drivers, but says that in some cases poor pay rates remain a problem. The Road Carriers Association is working with a range of driver groups to help the industry ... More >>
Interest rate caps needed to rein in loan sharks
Thursday, 8 May 2014, 11:37 am | First Union
Without interest rate caps imposed on them, loan sharks will still bite, FIRST Union says. Parliament is this afternoon expected to consider the Credit Contracts and Financial Services Law Reform Bill, as it goes through committee stages. More >>
Drivers getting raw deal from big oil and logistics players
Friday, 2 May 2014, 3:14 pm | First Union
Despite their already low pay, a group of Northland petroleum tanker drivers are getting little recognition of the value of their work, and in some cases may even be pressured to work in breach of land transport rules. More >>
Surge in ANZ profits prompts call for better work conditions
Friday, 2 May 2014, 11:27 am | First Union
A huge surge in profits at New Zealand's biggest bank has prompted calls for a decent wage increase and less stressful working conditions for the staff who helped generate this revenue. More >>
Toll Petroleum driver strike threatens Northland fuel supply
Friday, 2 May 2014, 10:49 am | First Union
Northland BP and GAS customers can expect disruptions to fuel supplies as workers at Toll Carriers in Whangarei have today started an indefinite strike in an attempt to secure better pay and conditions. More >>
Progress made to prevent another Rana Plaza tragedy
Thursday, 24 April 2014, 10:53 am | First Union
One year on: progress made to prevent another Rana Plaza tragedy An official from one of the two global union bodies that negotiated the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety , currently visiting New Zealand, says that the Accord continues ... More >>
