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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 36]
Huge blow to Rotorua sawmill workers
Saturday, 19 October 2013, 1:37 pm | First Union
News that a major Rotorua employer has been placed into receivership will be a huge blow to the workforce, the wood sector union said today. More >>
Working families still struggling
Friday, 4 October 2013, 11:24 am | First Union
Working families are still struggling to make ends meet, a union for low paid workers said today, following the release of the NZ Income Survey this morning. More >>
Barrier to migrant workers exposing abuse still unaddressed
Friday, 4 October 2013, 11:04 am | First Union
UNEMIG, Union Network of Migrants, says that changes to migrant worker rights announced yesterday are a step in the right direction, but don’t address one of the biggest barriers migrant workers face in speaking out. More >>
Competition on basis of labour costs not good for roading
Friday, 6 September 2013, 2:12 pm | First Union
An Auckland roading firm in receivership needs to shoulder some of the responsibility for its poor situation, the union for transport and logistics workers said today. Blacktop Construction was this week placed into receivership, it was reported this ... More >>
Strong show of opposition to low wages and cuts to work righ
Thursday, 22 August 2013, 1:00 pm | First Union
1500 workers have spoken out against low wages and cuts to their work rights at union meetings across Auckland this morning. More >>
Changes to trucking skills shortage rules an opportunity
Thursday, 1 August 2013, 2:37 pm | First Union
The removal of truck driving from an immigration skills shortage list provides must prompt a dedicated training plan to help New Zealanders to get behind the wheel of trucks, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Foreign charter vessels exemption appalling
Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 4:50 pm | First Union
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union is backing calls from the CTU this morning that boats fishing under settlement quota should not exempted from proposed requirements for foreign charter vessels. More >>
Rich List won’t be celebrated everywhere
Friday, 26 July 2013, 9:42 am | First Union
With hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living below the poverty line, there is no cause for celebration at today’s publication of the NBR Rich List, FIRST Union said today. More >>
50 redundancies at Dannevirke textile firm
Friday, 19 July 2013, 2:47 pm | First Union
The Dannevirke community has been hit hard today with the news of redundancies at one of the town’s major employers. Canterbury Spinners Limited (CSL) told staff at its Dannevirke plant this morning that they are proposing 50 or more redundancies. More >>
Transpacific workers in Auckland and Wellington join strike
Thursday, 11 July 2013, 3:02 pm | First Union
Waste and recycle workers at Transpacific Industries in Auckland and Wellington are joining their Gisborne counterparts in taking industrial action for a decent wage. More >>
Transpacific workers strike over low wage offer
Tuesday, 9 July 2013, 8:48 am | First Union
Waste and recycle workers at Transpacific Industries in Gisborne are this morning starting a two day strike in support of a poor wage offer that keeps workers on much lower wages than their Auckland and Wellington counterparts. More >>
Breakthrough in calls for forestry safety inquiry welcomed
Thursday, 4 July 2013, 9:20 am | First Union
A union for workers in the wood industries has welcomed a major development last night in the case for an inquiry into forestry safety. More >>
Striking workers picket Jami-Lee Ross’ office today
Tuesday, 25 June 2013, 8:46 am | First Union
Auckland Rockgas workers who are currently on strike will stage a noisy picket outside the office of Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross at 12.30pm today. More >>
Changes to migrant worker protections welcome, but…
Sunday, 23 June 2013, 1:11 pm | First Union
Better protection for migrant workers including those who speak out against abuse is greatly needed, but will be put at risk by parallel changes to the Employment Relations Act that would undermine other work rights, FIRST Union says. More >>
Relocation of Auckland textile plant, some redundancies
Tuesday, 18 June 2013, 4:10 pm | First Union
Workers at an Auckland carpet factory are facing disruption this afternoon with the news that their factory will close and jobs will be relocated to another site, with a small number of redundancies. More >>
Emerging consensus on manufacturing welcome
Monday, 17 June 2013, 12:39 pm | First Union
A union representing workers in textiles and wood processing is welcoming the emerging consensus around a new way forward for manufacturing. In Christchurch this morning Opposition parties released the final report of their inquiry into manufacturing. ... More >>
Changes to migrant worker protections needed
Saturday, 15 June 2013, 11:59 am | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Saturday June 15, 2013 Changes to migrant worker protections needed A union for migrant workers says it will look forward to scrutinising the detail of changes to migrant worker protections signaled late this week by the government. ... More >>
Kmart’s turnaround on Bangladesh safety welcomed
Friday, 7 June 2013, 12:55 pm | First Union
The union representing retail and clothing workers in New Zealand has welcomed Kmart’s decision to now support a global accord on safety for Bangladesh workers. Earlier, Kmart had said that it wouldn’t join other global retailers and fashion brands ... More >>
Ball in Rockgas’ court over pay dispute
Thursday, 6 June 2013, 9:55 am | First Union
Ball in Rockgas’ court over pay dispute Contact Energy Rockgas drivers who are seeking comparable pay with others in the industry say that Rockgas needs to return to the negotiation table with a genuine interest in resolving the employment agreement ... More >>
8 week strike at Contact Energy’s Rockgas in Auckland
Tuesday, 4 June 2013, 4:23 pm | First Union
Workers at Contact Energy’s Rockgas operations in Auckland have today started an 8 week strike in an attempt to secure better pay and conditions. More >>
