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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]
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 >>
Families before commerce at Easter
Friday, 18 April 2014, 11:19 am | First Union
Families before commerce at Easter The retail workers’ union has hit back at critics of New Zealand's modest Easter trading restrictions. "Some things are more important than going to the mall, and for just three and a half days each year we put community ... More >>
At Last: A Manufacturing Policy
Thursday, 17 April 2014, 9:24 am | First Union
At Last: A Manufacturing Policy FIRST Union congratulates Labour on the release of its Manufacturing policy today. The union represents workers in the wood, food and textile manufacturing sectors. “In a week that has seen another manufacturing company, ... More >>
85 more jobs killed by the NZ dollar
Saturday, 12 April 2014, 1:23 pm | First Union
85 more jobs killed by the NZ dollar - Christchurch textile firm in receivership News that the high New Zealand dollar has claimed another textile firm has come as a huge shock to those affected, FIRST Union said today. Staff at Christchurch Yarns ... More >>
Minimum wage increase too low
Tuesday, 1 April 2014, 2:56 pm | First Union
Low income families struggling with high costs have been let down by today’s minimum wage increase, FIRST Union says. More >>
Sad day for 120 Hamilton food manufacturing workers
Thursday, 27 March 2014, 3:42 pm | First Union
Tomorrow is a sad day for 120 Huttons workers in Hamilton who will have their last day at work. More >>
Forestry union welcomes Labour’s wood sector policy
Wednesday, 19 March 2014, 3:40 pm | First Union
FIRST Union, the union representing forestry and wood sector workers, welcomes the release of the Labour Party’s Forestry and Wood Products Economic Upgrade today. More >>
National’s priorities way off the mark with work rights bill
Wednesday, 19 March 2014, 2:42 pm | First Union
If National spent as much time working on improving wages as they spend making it harder for workers to bargain collectively we would all be much better off, FIRST Union said today. More >>
KiwiRail Coastal Pacific suspension unnecessary
Monday, 17 March 2014, 8:41 pm | First Union
Today’s announcement that KiwiRail will suspend its Christchurch-Picton passenger service, the Coastal Pacific, over the winter months is unnecessary and short sighted, says the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU). More >>
