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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 40]
Bus unions seek meeting with NZ Bus
Monday, 8 October 2012, 3:57 pm | First Union
Delegates from the FIRST Union and the Auckland Tramways Union met to discuss how to make progress in their bargaining for a new collective agreement with NZ Bus today. More >>
Union joins international campaign for decent work
Sunday, 7 October 2012, 6:08 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Sunday October 7, 2012 Union joins international campaign for decent work FIRST Union has joined an international campaign for decent work and job security. October 7 is World Day for Decent Work, and Robert Reid, FIRST ... More >>
Doing nothing on the NZ dollar not an option
Sunday, 7 October 2012, 10:38 am | First Union
FIRST Union has welcomed a further contribution to the monetary policy debate, as consensus grows that our current monetary policy settings are broken. More >>
Results of Auckland bus drivers ballot
Saturday, 6 October 2012, 1:31 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union & Auckland Tramways Union Saturday 6 October, 2012 Results of Auckland bus drivers ballot Bus drivers have voted against a revised proposal from NZ Bus for their collective employment agreement. The vote was 51% against ratifying ... More >>
Bank Profits Up Post GFC - Amongst World’s Most Profitable
Friday, 5 October 2012, 12:11 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday 5 October, 2012 Bank Profits Up Post GFC Because They Amongst The World’s Most Profitable New analysis showing the four big banks increased their collective profits even more following the global financial crisis ... More >>
National Bank: No job losses must mean no job losses
Wednesday, 26 September 2012, 6:43 pm | First Union
Following confirmation that ANZ will no longer operate the National Bank, the bank workers’ union says that the company must make good on its assurances that jobs and services won’t be cut as a result of the decision. More >>
National Bank: Kiwis need assurance
Wednesday, 26 September 2012, 10:30 am | First Union
The bank workers’ union says that ANZ needs to reassure their staff and customers that any changes to the National Bank will be the changing of a brand, not the closure of a bank. More >>
Bank profits costing our economy
Wednesday, 19 September 2012, 1:05 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Wednesday 19 September, 2012 Bank profits costing our economy It’s not just skilled workers that the Australian economy is sucking out of New Zealand, but massive bank profits too, the finance sector union said today. ... More >>
Auckland bus drivers vote against offer from NZ Bus
Monday, 17 September 2012, 1:52 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union & Auckland Tramways Union Monday 17 September, 2012 Auckland bus drivers vote against offer from NZ Bus Auckland bus drivers have today voted to reject the latest offer from NZ Bus for the renewal of their collective ... More >>
Manufacturing figures confirm bad news for workers
Thursday, 13 September 2012, 12:49 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday September 13, 2012 Manufacturing figures confirm bad news for workers Just-released manufacturing figures continue to paint a negative picture for workers in the productive sectors, a union for textiles and wood processing ... More >>
90 day trial not helping, union says
Thursday, 13 September 2012, 9:58 am | First Union
As pressure mounts on the government to front up with a response to the jobs crisis, their own policy which was designed to deal with unemployment is instead doing the opposite and is contributing to the labour market seizing up, a union for workers ... More >>
Warehouse and Briscoe: a tale of two retail chains
Friday, 7 September 2012, 3:36 pm | First Union
Despite both trading well, the contrast between two major retail chains who have announced profits this week is significant when it comes to how their workforce is treated, the retail workers’ union said today. More >>
Government procurement completely failing Kiwi jobs
Thursday, 6 September 2012, 4:59 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday September 6, 2012 Government procurement completely failing Kiwi jobs As the unemployment crisis continues to bite, the government’s just-released procurement principles are a complete let down to workers in local ... More >>
Auckland bus drivers to step up industrial action
Tuesday, 4 September 2012, 11:18 pm | First Union
Joint Media Release: Auckland Tramways Union and FIRST Union Tuesday September 4, 2012 Cost of living pressures force Auckland bus drivers to step up industrial action An inability to convince their employers to properly value their work has prompted ... More >>
Banks back to pre-crisis profits while people still struggle
Friday, 31 August 2012, 9:59 am | First Union
Our big banks are back to pre financial crisis profits but staff and customers are still missing out, says the union representing bank workers. More >>
New migrant workers network to combat exploitative practises
Friday, 17 August 2012, 9:55 am | First Union
New migrant workers network to combat exploitative practises The launch of a new network to help migrant workers know their rights is very timely, following a TVNZ investigation this week of exploitative practises by employers of migrant workers. ... More >>
Monetary policy debate very timely
Thursday, 16 August 2012, 4:41 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Thursday August 16, 2012 Monetary policy debate very timely As manufacturing again contracts in a survey out today, news that Parliament will debate our out-of-date monetary policy settings is very timely, FIRST Union said ... More >>
Wesfarmers Results See Bunnings Workers Looking For Dividend
Thursday, 16 August 2012, 4:17 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday August 16, 2012 Strong Wesfarmers Results Sees Bunnings Workers Looking For Dividend News that Bunnings’ parent company in Australia has posted excellent profits today will be welcomed by their New Zealand workforce ... More >>
Jobless recovery for workers
Thursday, 9 August 2012, 1:21 pm | First Union
What little economic recovery there is remains a jobless recovery, FIRST Union said today. Unemployment has risen to 6.8% in today’s Household Labour Force Survey. More >>
Bus talks fail to reach agreement
Monday, 6 August 2012, 3:03 pm | First Union
Wage talks for Auckland bus drivers have finished without reaching agreement, bus industry unions said today. The Auckland Tramways Union and FIRST Union are negotiating for a new collective agreement with NZ Bus, to replace the current 2009-2012 agreement. More >>
