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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 42]
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 >>
Ports of Auckland Action Is Unacceptable, say Anglicans
Thursday, 15 March 2012, 12:45 pm | First Union
The chair of the Anglican Church’s Social Justice Commission says the action by the Ports of Auckland to leave the negotiating table and dismiss all unionised port workers is unacceptable. More >>
Westpac change of guard chance to end excess culture
Friday, 9 March 2012, 1:39 pm | First Union
New leadership at Westpac bank means it’s a good time for a change of culture in the organisation, the union for bank workers said today. More >>
If You’re Looking To Retail, John, The Work’s Not There
Wednesday, 29 February 2012, 3:00 pm | First Union
The government needs a reality check on where exactly sole parents under pressure from WINZ will find jobs, when there is already intense competition for hours in service sector work, the retail workers’ union said today. John Key has defended ... More >>
70,000 ITF members stand alongside Auckland wharfies
Friday, 24 February 2012, 2:32 pm | First Union
Media release: Friday February 24, 2012 International Transport Workers Federation – NZ affiliates 70,000 ITF members stand alongside Auckland wharfies New Zealand affiliates of the International Transport Workers Federation are backing the Maritime ... More >>
$2.8 billion in bank profits – what’s in it for New Zealand?
Friday, 10 February 2012, 1:59 pm | First Union
The union representing bank workers says New Zealanders need to start questioning whether our country is getting any benefit from huge annual leaps in bank profits. More >>
Low wages driving inequality
Tuesday, 7 February 2012, 1:25 pm | First Union
New Zealand’s structural problem of low wages is driving the gap between the rich and poor, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Westpac job cuts unacceptable
Friday, 3 February 2012, 2:50 pm | First Union
A new round of job cuts in Australia from a massively profitable operation like Westpac is unacceptable, the union for New Zealand bank workers said today. More >>
BIM on procurement shows govt’s do-nothing approach to jobs
Thursday, 2 February 2012, 4:56 pm | First Union
It is laughable that the government procurement agenda was initiated at National’s 2009 Jobs Summit, given it now has nothing to do with creating jobs, FIRST Union said today. More >>
Strong Briscoe Group result means profits can be shared
Thursday, 2 February 2012, 2:30 pm | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Thursday February 2, 2012 Strong Briscoe Group result means profits can be shared Briscoe store workers who helped their company achieve good profits are looking for more of that wealth to be shared in current wage talks, ... More >>
Building consents sound a warning bell over jobs, sawmills
Tuesday, 31 January 2012, 2:05 pm | First Union
Building work needs to pick up to keep workers in employment and ensure local sawmills stay in business, a union for wood processing workers said today. More >>
ANZ should plan to invest in jobs on both sides of Tasman
Monday, 16 January 2012, 2:32 pm | First Union
Bank workers in New Zealand are dismayed by media reports that the ANZ bank may be slashing several hundred jobs in Australia. “There is no case to be made for cutting jobs when the bank is extremely profitable and with chronic understaffing in the ... More >>
Here we go again, say retail workers
Friday, 23 December 2011, 9:23 am | First Union
Media release: FIRST Union Friday December 23, 2011 Here we go again, say retail workers As Christmas Day approaches, one of only 3 and ½ days of guaranteed time-off for retail workers, a shop worker says she is gutted that she will again have to ... More >>
