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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 41]
$15 minimum wage a first step
Thursday, 26 July 2012, 5:00 pm | First Union
$15 an hour is still not a living wage, but a union representing low paid workers says that a members’ bill lifting the minimum wage to that rate will prompt Parliament to debate the issue of poverty wages. More >>
Redundancies at Fisher & Paykel Appliances in Auckland
Thursday, 19 July 2012, 1:54 pm | First Union
Joint media release: EPMU & FIRST Union July 19, 2012 Redundancies at Fisher & Paykel Appliances in Auckland New Zealand manufacturing has taken another hit this week, following confirmation from Fisher & Paykel Appliances that 29 workers ... More >>
Update on Auckland bus driver wage talks
Friday, 13 July 2012, 3:29 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Friday July 13, 2012 Update on Auckland bus driver wage talks Unions representing Auckland bus drivers met with NZ Bus yesterday and today for two further days of negotiations. The Auckland Tramways Union and FIRST Union ... More >>
Manufacturing survey confirms concerns for workers
Thursday, 12 July 2012, 1:11 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Thursday July 12, 2012 Manufacturing survey confirms concerns for workers Manufacturing workers are facing uncertain times in a sector largely unsupported by government policy, FIRST Union said today. Today’s Business NZ/BNZ ... More >>
Family time at Easter for retail workers safe
Thursday, 28 June 2012, 9:01 am | First Union
Shop workers will be delighted by the defeat in Parliament of yet another bill which would have made it harder for them to spend Easter with their families, the retail workers’ union said today. More >>
Auckland factory closure shows jobs strategy missing
Wednesday, 27 June 2012, 10:06 am | First Union
The closure of an Onehunga textiles factory is a huge loss for the workers concerned and the South Auckland community, the workers’ union said today. More >>
Key’s Top 10 list about as useful as his Letterman slot
Monday, 25 June 2012, 5:09 pm | First Union
John Key’s just-released Top 10 list is meaningless without a dedicated plan to grow jobs in the economy, FIRST Union said today. More >>
High risk in truck driver remuneration structure highlighted
Thursday, 21 June 2012, 10:21 am | First Union
A second report this week documenting poor remuneration for truck drivers leading to crashes must prompt action to better regulate drivers’ incomes and make our roads safer, their union said today. More >>
Law change needed to stop unsafe truck driver practises
Tuesday, 19 June 2012, 3:09 pm | First Union
The union for road transport workers says a law change is needed to stop unsafe practises by truck drivers on New Zealand’s roads. More >>
TPPA should not cut off government options on jobs
Thursday, 14 June 2012, 3:24 pm | First Union
The government shouldn’t sign trade agreements that cut off New Zealand’s policy options to grow jobs for Kiwis, the clothing and textile workers’ union said today. More >>
Gap between lowest and highest paid still stark
Friday, 8 June 2012, 9:28 am | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Friday June 8, 2012 Gap between lowest and highest paid still stark New Zealanders will be alarmed at the big gap between the lowest workers’ wages and the top CEO salaries, FIRST Union said today. Today’s NZ Herald CEO salary ... More >>
Redundancies at Summit Wool Spinners
Wednesday, 6 June 2012, 5:58 pm | First Union
Redundancies at a major North Otago wool plant are reflective of the difficulty manufacturers are facing across the country, the textile workers’ union said today. More >>
Australia maintains wage gap with New Zealand
Saturday, 2 June 2012, 1:34 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Saturday June 2, 2012 Australia maintains wage gap with New Zealand The wage gap with Australia wasn’t helped by yesterday’s increase of the Australian minimum wage to nearly $20 in New Zealand terms, a union for many ... More >>
Living wage campaign will capture public mind
Wednesday, 23 May 2012, 11:02 am | First Union
Living wage campaign will capture public mind A union for low paid workers in retail, logistics and other sectors says a new campaign launched today in support of a living wage will capture the mind of the public, who are becoming more aware of growing ... More >>
Employment Proposals Signal End to Catching up with Aust
Monday, 14 May 2012, 4:42 pm | First Union
Today’s employment law proposals officially signal the end of John Key’s goal of catching up with Australian wages, a union for low paid workers says. More >>
Jobs massacre see redundancies across the country
Thursday, 3 May 2012, 11:09 am | First Union
As unemployment is again on the rise, a recent wave of actual or potential job losses has a union with members in textiles, wood and food processing calling for the government to own up to the problem facing our manufacturing industries and the workers within ... More >>
ANZ profits are rising, wages are falling behind
Wednesday, 2 May 2012, 6:44 pm | First Union
ANZ National’s 13% increase in profit for the year to March exposes the bank’s unwillingness to invest in their own staff, says the union representing bank workers. More >>
Wage Increases Poor Without Union Advocacy
Tuesday, 1 May 2012, 2:55 pm | First Union
Without union advocacy employers will usually pay the smallest pay rises they can, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Bank profits back over $3 billion while economy stagnates
Tuesday, 24 April 2012, 10:05 am | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Tuesday April 24, 2012 Bank profits back over $3 billion while economy stagnates Combined bank after-tax profits soared to $3.3 billion last year, a figure that FIRST Union Finance Secretary Andrew Casidy describes as problematic ... More >>
Cigarette Plain Packaging Could Come Unstuck
Friday, 20 April 2012, 9:01 am | First Union
Plans to introduce plain packaging of cigarettes could come unstuck as a result of New Zealand’s involvement in trade talks – which so far remain in secret. More >>
