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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]
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 >>
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 >>
