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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 38]
Forest exports at risk over certification non compliance
Monday, 18 February 2013, 9:16 am | First Union
New Zealand’s forest exports are being put risk as the industry continues to drag the chain on a key aspect of its certification, a union for workers in the wood industries says. More >>
Secure and safe jobs would help attract primary production
Friday, 15 February 2013, 10:35 am | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday February 15, 2013. Secure and safe jobs would help attract primary production workers Better health and safety and job security would help in attracting workers to primary industries, FIRST Union said today. Rabobank ... More >>
Foodstuffs merger opportunity to improve workplace relations
Friday, 8 February 2013, 2:42 pm | First Union
A potential merger of the two North Island Foodstuffs cooperatives should be used as an opportunity to improve workplace relations and lift their very low wages, the union for workers at the company says. More >>
Unemployment stubbornly high
Thursday, 7 February 2013, 11:36 am | First Union
Unemployment stubbornly high Unemployment is stubbornly high and the government needs to face up to the country’s jobs crisis, FIRST Union said today. Unemployment sits at 6.9 per cent in statistics out this morning. “This is 163,000 workers and ... More >>
Industrial Action At Auckland Distribution Centre
Thursday, 31 January 2013, 3:33 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday 31 January, 2013 Industrial Action At Auckland Distribution Centre Workers at an Auckland book and magazine distribution centre have started industrial action today, after talks over their employment agreement ... More >>
Unemployment crisis needs more than minor tweaks to economy
Tuesday, 29 January 2013, 3:17 pm | First Union
The need to urgently get on top of high unemployment was the glaring omission from John Key’s speech opening Parliament, FIRST Union said today. “Unemployment shot up half a per cent to 7.3 per cent in November. More >>
Fine for trucking firm prompts calls for better protections
Sunday, 20 January 2013, 8:57 am | First Union
A significant fine handed down to a truck operator this week has prompted calls for the government to better regulate truckies’ working conditions, and to stop blocking a UN protocol on long work hours. More >>
Rail workers ratify employment agreement
Thursday, 13 December 2012, 3:39 pm | First Union
Rail workers have voted to ratify their collective agreement for a two year term. The agreement is the largest in the rail industry and covers over 2,500 workers at NZ Railways Corporation, Ontrack and KiwiRail. More >>
Mass Union Meeting Calls On Port CEO To Share Bonus
Wednesday, 12 December 2012, 3:37 pm | First Union
Media Release: Rail and Maritime Transport Union Wednesday 12 December, 2012 Mass Union Meeting Calls On Port CEO To Share Bonus A mass meeting of members of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) a short time ago called on Lyttelton Port Company ... More >>
Two Thirds Wary Of TPP That Allows Foreign Investors to Sue
Wednesday, 12 December 2012, 9:14 am | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Wednesday December 12, 2012 Two Thirds Of New Zealanders Wary Of TPP That Allows Foreign Investors To Sue A new poll shows two thirds of New Zealanders are wary of a Trans Pacific Partnership that has rules allowing corporations ... More >>
International rail workers condemn Hillside decision
Monday, 10 December 2012, 2:16 pm | First Union
A meeting of Asia Pacific rail unions has condemned the government’s failure to keep rail manufacturing jobs in New Zealand. At a meeting of the International Centre for Labour Solidarity in Wellington over the weekend, delegates were updated on the ... More >>
Public patience with no-jobs government wearing thin
Sunday, 9 December 2012, 11:30 am | First Union
The government’s lack of any plan for jobs has been laid bare this morning, FIRST Union said today. A Fairfax poll out this morning listed job creation and unemployment as the top issue facing the country. More >>
Forestry standards missing worker involvement
Wednesday, 5 December 2012, 2:45 pm | First Union
The union for forest and wood processing workers says new safety standards released today are missing a vital ingredient – worker participation. The government today released the Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations ... More >>
Workplace no place for pushing and shoving
Monday, 19 November 2012, 1:09 pm | First Union
FIRST Union says that while there may be a bit of leeway for getting physical on the rugby field, there is no place for it in the workplace and that shop workers should be treated with respect by both customers and management. More >>
More outages will follow cuts to KiwiRail maintenance
Friday, 16 November 2012, 3:49 pm | First Union
The use of outside contractors will grow and outages like that experienced in Auckland this week will increase as a result of cuts to KiwiRail maintenance capacity, the rail union warns. More >>
Bus drivers vote to ratify collective agreement
Wednesday, 14 November 2012, 10:34 am | First Union
After six months of bargaining, NZ Bus drivers have voted to ratify a new collective agreement and are welcoming the company’s commitment to a culture change in the organisation. More >>
Unemployment figures a national disgrace
Thursday, 8 November 2012, 12:48 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Thursday November 8, 2012 Unemployment figures a national disgrace National has presided over the biggest haemorrhaging of jobs since the 1990s, FIRST Union said today. Unemployment has risen to 7.3 per cent, or 175,000 people, ... More >>
Westpac Net Profit Up 22%, Bank Negotiating With Staff
Monday, 5 November 2012, 2:28 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Monday 5 November, 2012 Westpac Net Profit Up 22%, Bank Currently Negotiating With Staff Westpac’s announcement today of a 22% increase in net profit for the last financial year shows that the bank is more than able to ... More >>
Sense should have prevailed among Nuplex shareholders
Thursday, 1 November 2012, 4:01 pm | First Union
A union representing workers at Nuplex Industries has slammed moves to whack up director fees at a time when the company is laying off workers on both sides of the Tasman. More >>
Loan shark industry will grow without laws to stop them
Thursday, 1 November 2012, 2:33 pm | First Union
Without interest rate caps imposed on them, loan sharks will still bite, FIRST Union’s Pasekifa Fono says. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Federation of Family Budgeting Services have launched a freecall number targeting Pacific victims of loan ... More >>
