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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 37]
Calls for better understanding of truck crashes
Tuesday, 28 May 2013, 3:15 pm | First Union
Another fatal accident this morning has prompted calls for a better understanding of the underlying issues affecting the safety of truck drivers. More >>
Ambulance staff welcome meal breaks signal from St John
Tuesday, 28 May 2013, 10:40 am | First Union
Foreshadowed relief for frontline emergency paramedics to gain more regular access to meal breaks is being welcomed by the union representing paramedics in Auckland. More >>
Stronger law needed to address truck accidents & fatalities
Tuesday, 21 May 2013, 3:12 pm | First Union
The truck drivers’ union says dangerous work practices are embedded in the heavy vehicle industry and much stronger laws are needed to protect drivers. Yesterday’s death and serious injury from the logging truck crash near Tolaga Bay comes as Australia ... More >>
Will working families be hurt by a TPPA agreement?
Monday, 20 May 2013, 1:30 pm | First Union
Unions in Australia and New Zealand have united to call on governments negotiating the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) to protect the rights and living conditions of working families. More >>
Kmart Nz Can Do Better For Bangladesh Workers
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 10:47 am | First Union
Kmart New Zealand’s refusal to join other big retailers and fashion brands in committing to a new safety accord for Bangladesh clothing workers is very disappointing, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Changes needed to stop migrant worker abuse
Sunday, 12 May 2013, 10:36 am | First Union
FIRST Union and its migrant worker network, UNEMIG are cautiously optimistic at comments from labour officials yesterday that changes are afoot to deal with the rapidly growing problem of migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand. More >>
Forestry Safety Inquiry Calls Backed By Wood Union
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 3:10 pm | First Union
The union for wood and forestry workers is backing calls for an inquiry into forestry safety. More >>
FIRST Living Wage Victory For Retail Workers
Tuesday, 7 May 2013, 9:40 am | First Union
This morning’s announcement by The Warehouse Group of a Career Retailer Wage has been welcomed by FIRST Union, the union for retail workers. More >>
Introduction of Youth Rates Won’t Be Taken Lying Down
Wednesday, 1 May 2013, 8:50 am | First Union
As the government’s new youth pay law comes into effect today, a large group of Auckland supermarket workers are taking action to prevent a wage cut through youth rates being introduced in their stores. More >>
We don’t get fooled again
Friday, 26 April 2013, 3:52 pm | First Union
New Zealand workers will not be fooled again by the proposed changes to employment law outlined by National today, FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid said. More >>
Auckland Rockgas customers:stock up before industrial action
Wednesday, 24 April 2013, 3:02 pm | First Union
Auckland customers of Contact Energy’s Rockgas would be wise to stock up on gas, ahead of industrial action starting this Friday by its drivers. The drivers, members of FIRST Union, have been in bargaining with Contact Energy’s Rockgas but an inability ... More >>
Fourth death in forestry
Tuesday, 23 April 2013, 2:45 pm | First Union
As Workers Memorial Day approaches this Sunday, a union in the wood sector is warning that little is being learned from the spate of deaths in our forests. Yesterday a 23 year old forestry worker died near Waitara in Taranaki. He was the fourth worker ... More >>
Bank Profits At Expense Of Workforce And Community
Thursday, 18 April 2013, 3:26 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday April 18, 2013 Bank Profits At Expense Of Workforce And Community The bank workers’ union says that while no one is arguing banks shouldn’t be making a profit, the extent of the windfall of the four Australian banks off the ... More >>
Pak n Save & New World sticking out like a sore thumb
Saturday, 6 April 2013, 2:55 pm | First Union
Supermarket operator Foodstuffs is isolating itself as a low wage employer for young workers, and should instead take the lead from the large fast food firms and others in retail who have opted out of youth rates, the retail workers’ union said today. ... More >>
Forest safety campaign calls for inquiry
Thursday, 4 April 2013, 12:46 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday 4 April, 2013 Forest safety campaign calls for inquiry into one of NZ’s most dangerous industries A campaign calling for an inquiry into health and safety in forestry stepped up a notch today with the launch of a ... More >>
Forest death must prompt changes
Wednesday, 27 March 2013, 1:14 pm | First Union
The wood sector union says that another fatality in forestry must serve as a wakeup call for better health and safety standards in the industry. “It is a very sad time for the family of the 23 year old forestry worker who died yesterday near Rotorua, ... More >>
Migrant Worker Exploitation Will Continue Without Tougher En
Monday, 18 March 2013, 9:41 am | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Sunday 17 March 2013 Migrant Worker Exploitation Will Continue Without Tougher Enforcement Widespread exploitation of migrant workers will continue unless there are tougher penalties and stronger enforcement, says a union ... More >>
Summit Wool Spinners update
Wednesday, 27 February 2013, 2:01 pm | First Union
This week is Summit Wool Spinners' final week of operation. Workers are finishing this week, and await decisions from Godfrey Hirst owned Canterbury Spinners on the future of the plant. More >>
25 cents won't pay the rent
Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 1:12 pm | First Union
Twenty five cents an hour will do nothing to reduce poverty, a union for low paid workers in retail, logistics and other sector says. The government has today announced a new minimum wage rate of $13.75, an increase of just twenty five cents. More >>
ANZ job cuts in Australia and New Zealand
Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 5:05 pm | First Union
Redundancies announced a short time ago at ANZ in Australia follow advice to New Zealand staff of potential redundancies also, the finance workers’ union said today. More >>
