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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]
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 >>
Talley’s AFFCO Misleads Over Employment Settlement
Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 4:14 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Wednesday April 18, 2012 Talley’s AFFCO Misleads Over Employment Settlement A union who recently settled an employment agreement with Talley’s AFFCO has hit back at a misleading description of the settlement from the company’s ... More >>
An Easter break for retail workers – how about next year?
Friday, 6 April 2012, 11:47 am | First Union
Retail workers will be pleased to have a couple of their rare guaranteed days off work this Easter, but there is doubt over that break for 2013 with a bill to open up Easter trading still on the political agenda. More >>
ANZ CEO out of touch on inequality
Thursday, 5 April 2012, 3:22 pm | First Union
The bank workers’ union says the public are absolutely right to challenge massive salaries for bank CEOs. More >>
Minimum Wage Bill Important Step
Wednesday, 4 April 2012, 4:27 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Wednesday 4 April, 2012 Minimum Wage Bill Important Step A union representing low paid workers says that a members’ bill lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour is in stark contrast to the current government’s approach to ... More >>
Loan Sharks Will Still Bite Without Interest Rate Caps
Monday, 2 April 2012, 3:03 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Monday 2 April, 2012 Loan Sharks Will Still Bite Without Interest Rate Caps FIRST Union, the union representing finance sector workers said reform of loan sharks would not be complete without the introduction of interest ... More >>
Union campaigns for decent wages
Sunday, 1 April 2012, 7:19 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Sunday 1 April, 2012 Union campaigns for decent wages A union representing many low paid workers, especially in the retail sector, has described this week’s 50 cent increase in the minimum wage to $13.50 as “pathetic”. ... More >>
Auckland Has Port Back But This Never Should Have Happened
Friday, 30 March 2012, 4:27 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday March 30, 2012 Auckland Has Its Port Back But This Never Should Have Happened Auckland citizens, workers and businesses will welcome news that their Port will be up and running again soon, following Port management’s ... More >>
Spotlight on loan sharks & finance companies urgently needed
Thursday, 15 March 2012, 5:29 pm | First Union
FIRST Union says that last night’s Fair Go programme serves as a stark reminder of why legislation is needed to curb loan sharks and other risky lenders. More >>
