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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 39]
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 >>
‘Safe rates’ legislation needed in New Zealand also
Friday, 26 October 2012, 11:02 am | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday October 26, 2012 ‘Safe rates’ legislation needed in New Zealand also A law change is needed to stop unsafe practises by truck drivers on New Zealand’s roads, the drivers’ union said today, ahead of a special briefing ... More >>
ANZ Profits Further Grounds For No Staffing Reductions
Thursday, 25 October 2012, 4:09 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday October 25, 2012 ANZ Profits Further Grounds For No Staffing Reductions Staffing and service levels at ANZ must be consolidated and improved, following its substantial profit announcement today, the bank workers’ ... More >>
Fletcher Crane Distribution workers take strike action
Thursday, 25 October 2012, 1:25 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday October 25, 2012 Fletcher Crane Distribution workers take strike action over low pay offer Workers at Fletcher Building’s Crane Distribution NZ in Onehunga have taken strike action in support of a better pay offer. ... More >>
Groundbreaking Australian ‘safe rates’ legislation
Wednesday, 24 October 2012, 4:44 pm | First Union
The instigators of Australian legislation addressing the impact of truck driver remuneration systems that encourage unsafe practises will brief the New Zealand road transport industry this Friday. More >>
NZ third in the world for ease of doing business
Tuesday, 23 October 2012, 4:41 pm | First Union
The government should rethink its employment law proposals, following confirmation today in an international survey that it is already easy to do business in New Zealand, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Labour Day gains at risk of erosion
Sunday, 21 October 2012, 5:44 pm | First Union
As New Zealand is set to celebrate historic gains for workers on Labour Day tomorrow, a major union is warning that there are proposals to take some rights away again. More >>
Government move on youth wages illegal
Friday, 19 October 2012, 2:24 pm | First Union
The Government’s Bill extending age-based discrimination in minimum wages breaches the Bill of Rights and should be struck down, FIRST Union said today. The Green Party yesterday lodged a Human Rights Commission complaint over the government’s youth ... More >>
Stronger government procurement rules needed
Friday, 19 October 2012, 11:48 am | First Union
Stronger buy-local rules for government departments are welcome, but they would need to be strongly enforced, FIRST Union said. Labour leader David Shearer yesterday outlined, in addition to policies on migration and work, proposals for government ... More >>
Work rights for under 16 year olds need attention
Thursday, 18 October 2012, 4:01 pm | First Union
FIRST Union has welcomed debate on a bill that would address protections for children at work. More >>
Decent work focus for union conference
Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 3:14 pm | First Union
Achieving good jobs and decent lives for workers is the organising call for delegates attending the FIRST Union conference which got underway today. FIRST Union delegates are gathering in Auckland today and tomorrow for the union’s biennial conference ... More >>
Union takes case for underpayment of migrant worker
Friday, 12 October 2012, 6:39 pm | First Union
A new network protecting migrant workers’ rights is taking up the case of a migrant worker who was underpaid for several years while she worked as a domestic servant in Auckland. More >>
Manufacturing inquiry needed to stop jobs massacre
Friday, 12 October 2012, 1:31 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday October 12, 2012 Manufacturing inquiry needed to stop jobs massacre An inquiry into ways our third largest employing industry can be better supported is welcome, FIRST Union said today. At the EPMU Jobs Crisis Summit ... More >>
