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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 35]
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 >>
Sharing the benefits of economic growth
Friday, 14 March 2014, 1:16 pm | First Union
David Cunliffe’s signal that a new government will have a plan for our industries and ensure that the benefits of economic growth will be better shared is welcome news for workers, FIRST Union said today. David Cunliffe today set out Labour’s ... More >>
Tougher asbestos rules needed
Friday, 7 March 2014, 8:15 pm | First Union
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is renewing its call for better regulations on the use of asbestos. More >>
Transpacific sale not all good news for workers
Tuesday, 4 March 2014, 4:48 pm | First Union
The sale of Transpacific Industries Group’s New Zealand assets has come at a cost to some of its workers who are being made redundant, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Hope for going-concern Southern Cross Forest Products sale
Tuesday, 4 March 2014, 4:41 pm | First Union
The wood sector union is hopeful that jobs may be retained at a Dunedin based wood processing company. More >>
Wealthy banks can better support staff
Tuesday, 4 March 2014, 8:38 am | First Union
Big profits at New Zealand’s banks show they have ample room in coming weeks to improve pay and bring in less stressful working conditions, the bank workers’ union said today. More >>
"Stop interfering in NZ affairs”, Union tells Ambassador
Thursday, 20 February 2014, 11:00 am | First Union
A union representing many migrant workers in New Zealand has accused the Philippine Ambassador of interfering in the internal affairs of New Zealand following a speech that she made to Filipino migrant workers in Christchurch last Sunday. More >>
Goodman Fielder Confirms Hamilton Closure and 125 Job losses
Monday, 10 February 2014, 9:46 am | First Union
Goodman Fielder this morning confirmed the closure of its Hamilton Huttons / Kiwi Bacon factory with the loss of some 125 jobs according to FIRST Union which represents 96 of the workers. “Workers were called to a company meeting at 7.00 am this morning ... More >>
Waikato food manufacturing workers shocked at announcement
Wednesday, 8 January 2014, 5:26 pm | First Union
The proposed closure of a Waikato food manufacturing facility has come as a shock and a surprise to workers and is being driven from Australia, the workers’ union says. Workers at Goodman Fielder’s Frankton Meats plant were told at 7am this morning ... More >>
Airport company needs to urgently meet with taxi drivers
Monday, 9 December 2013, 4:30 pm | First Union
FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid says that the Auckland Airport company had contacted him to meet about the concerns of the Auckland Taxi Association drivers. More >>
Foodstuffs workers to picket Botany Pak n Save
Friday, 6 December 2013, 11:21 am | First Union
Foodstuffs workers to picket Botany Pak n Save 6 December 2013 Workers at the Botany Downs Pak n Save supermarket will protest outside their workplace at 1.30 pm on Saturday December 7. FIRST Union Retail Sector Secretary Maxine Gay says Richard Longdon, ... More >>
43 cents in the $ payment to Tachikawa workers confirmed
Saturday, 30 November 2013, 9:35 am | First Union
One week after being advised that any payment before Christmas was unlikely, the receivers of Tachikawa Forest Products have advised the union for former workers at the sawmill on Friday evening that a payment has now been confirmed. More >>
Whanau day for Tachikawa workers tomorrow
Friday, 29 November 2013, 1:53 pm | First Union
Tachikawa workers and their families will gather tomorrow for a Whanau Day at a local Rotorua marae. There will be presents for the kids, an all-day barbeque and bands and singers. More >>
