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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 4]
Warehouse Workers Are Sharing Their Thoughts On The Company’s Behaviour
Friday, 22 September 2023, 9:31 am | First Union
Warehouse workers have opted to continue a ‘social media strike’ and are sharing their thoughts on executive pay, the importance of a living wage and their challenging working conditions despite threats from management to penalise participating staff, ... More >>
Safe Rates For Transport Would Save Lives On New Zealand Roads
Friday, 22 September 2023, 6:33 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the union for Aotearoa’s transport workers, has joined more than 50 trade unions representing road transport drivers around the world in calling for a ‘Safe Rates’ system, which would increase drivers’ wages and improve working ... More >>
Warehouse Workers Walking Out In Living Wage Protest
Thursday, 31 August 2023, 12:17 pm | First Union
Workers at two large Warehouse stores in Auckland and Palmerston North will walk off the job this Friday in an initial strike action to seek public support for a living wage and safer staffing levels in stores WHEN: Friday 1st September, 14:00-16:00 ... More >>
Rising Profits Accounted For More Than Half Of Domestic Inflation During Cost-of-living Crisis
Monday, 28 August 2023, 6:50 am | FIRST Union
JOIN MEDIA RELEASE: FIRST Union, NZCTU and ActionStation WHAT: Launch and presentation of report: Profit-Led Inflation in Aotearoa New Zealand WHEN: 9.30am - 10.30am, Monday 28th August WHERE: Garden Room, St. Peter’s on Willis Street, 211 Willis Street, ... More >>
Preliminary ComCom Report Confirms NZ Banks Amongst Most Profitable In The World
Thursday, 10 August 2023, 12:22 pm | First Union
A preliminary report by the Commerce Commission released today confirms that New Zealand banks are amongst the most profitable banks in comparable countries, based on the three main measures of bank profitability (return in equity, return on assets ... More >>
Westpac Workers Will Walk Off The Job
Wednesday, 9 August 2023, 6:36 am | FIRST Union
WHAT: Almost 900 FIRST Union members who work at Westpac will take strike action on Wednesday 8th August, with a nationwide 2-hour strike from 12:00-14:00 accompanied by full-day industrial action in certain stores around the country. Westpac workers More >>
Westpac Workers To Strike Next Week Over Low Pay
Wednesday, 2 August 2023, 10:59 am | FIRST Union
Over 800 FIRST Union members who work at Westpac banks around the country have voted to begin strike action next week after rejecting a low pay offer following five months of bargaining. Bill Bradford, FIRST Union organiser, said union members would nationally ... More >>
Modern Slavery Legislation Welcomed But Employer Due Diligence Is Crucial
Friday, 28 July 2023, 1:19 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union General Secretary Dennis Maga has welcomed this morning’s announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Carmel Sepuloni, that legislation will be brought forward to help end modern slavery in our country’s supply chains, ... More >>
Comments On Proposed Closure Of Belfast's Warehouse And Noel Leeming Stores
Wednesday, 19 July 2023, 1:50 pm | FIRST Union
Paul Watson, FIRST Union Southern Regional Secretary, commented on today's consultation meetings regarding the closures of The Warehouse Belfast, Warehouse Stationery Belfast and Noel Leeming Belfast: "FIRST Union will be closely scrutinising the business ... More >>
Auckland Bus Drivers Strike: Free Fares For Matariki As Protest Continues
Thursday, 13 July 2023, 11:13 am | FIRST Union
Auckland bus drivers are thanking the local community for their patience and support during industrial work stoppages this week, and announcing that NZ Bus-operated routes in Auckland with union drivers will be free for the Matariki public holiday this ... More >>
Supermarket Workers' Union Welcomes Fair Pay Agreement Acceptance
Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 4:01 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members who work in Aotearoa’s supermarkets are the latest group of workers to be formally accepted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to begin negotiations for a Fair Pay Agreement. "We’re delighted that ... More >>
More Than 95% Of Westpac Workers Reject ‘insulting’ Pay Offer, Will Vote On Strike Action
Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 10:21 am | FIRST Union
More than 95% of FIRST Union members have voted to reject a pay offer from Westpac bank and after 4 months of bargaining, they will vote on taking industrial action this week. Callum Francis, FIRST Union national finance organiser, said bank workers ... More >>
Auckland NZ Bus Strike To Continue As Company Refuses To Move
Monday, 10 July 2023, 4:02 pm | FIRST Union
Auckland NZ Bus drivers who are members of Tramways and FIRST Union will continue industrial action over the coming week, including morning work stoppages on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at seven Auckland depots, following today’s unsuccessful ... More >>
Frame And Truss Workers Still Waiting For Wage Agreement As Fletcher Machine Stalls
Monday, 10 July 2023, 12:38 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members who work at Fletcher subsidiary Frame and Truss, which is part of the Placemakers brand, say they have now been waiting over five months to sign a new wage agreement since their last one expired, and FIRST Union organiser Justin ... More >>
Why Auckland Bus Drivers Went On Strike Today
Monday, 10 July 2023, 12:11 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the largest bus drivers’ union in Aotearoa, says this morning’s bus strike of seven NZ Bus depots in Auckland was necessary and successful, and is challenging "misleading" claims by the employer (NZ Bus) and Auckland Transport ... More >>
Pak'nSave Royal Oak Workers To Stage Lunchtime Picket Over Low Wages And Understaffing
Friday, 30 June 2023, 8:28 pm | FIRST Union
What: FIRST Union members from Pak'n'Save Royal Oak in Auckland will stage a lunchtime picket, seeking community support for better wages and conditions in their local supermarket When: Saturday 1 July, 12:00-13:30 Where: Pak'n'Save Royal Oak, 691 Manukau ... More >>
Banks Must Consider Social Licence As Real Wage Cuts Underwrite Profits
Tuesday, 20 June 2023, 2:49 pm | FIRST Union
In light of today’s confirmation that the Commerce Commission will carry out a market study into New Zealand’s banking sector, FIRST Union - the union for bank workers - is asking banks to consider their social licence. Edward Miller, FIRST ... More >>
Students Overthrow Compulsory Military Training
Friday, 9 June 2023, 8:20 am | First Union
OHMS! Protest! A Celebration of Resistance, our documentary focusing on the power of activism, screens at the Doc Edge festival in Wellington this week. The Vietnam War is raging. The Americans are there, boots and all. Here the streets are filled ... More >>
Uber To Try An Appeal - But Drivers Say They Will Win It
Thursday, 8 June 2023, 3:33 pm | FIRST Union
Today’s Court of Appeal’s decision, which will allow ridesharing multinational Uber to seek to appeal last year’s Employment Court decision regarding the employment status of four current and ex- drivers, is not an unexpected development and will ... More >>
Reserve Bank Exacerbating Cost Of Living Crisis
Wednesday, 24 May 2023, 3:44 pm | First Union
Today’s 25 basis point hike of the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will further exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for NZ households, according to FIRST Union. "It's deeply troubling to see the Reserve Bank continue to hike rates in response to a ... More >>
