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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]
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 >>
A Pike River every six years
Tuesday, 20 December 2011, 12:01 pm | First Union
Workplace accidents in our forests cause the equivalent number of deaths to a Pike River tragedy every six years according to the wood sector union. More >>
Manufacturing results confirm problems in wood industry
Thursday, 8 December 2011, 1:52 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Thursday 8 December, 2011. Latest manufacturing results confirm problems in wood industry Raw logs will continue to be shipped overseas unprocessed unless there is serious attention paid by the government to the wood processing industry, ... More >>
More job losses in wood – how many more before Govt notices?
Wednesday, 7 December 2011, 12:20 pm | First Union
As more sawmill job losses are confirmed, a union for wood processing workers is asking how many more mills will close before the Government admits there is a crisis. Eurocell Timber in Upper Hutt is shutting down its mill, with the loss of up to 40 ... More >>
Westpac pushing ahead with plan to cut staff - First Union
Wednesday, 9 November 2011, 11:34 am | First Union
Westpac pushing ahead with plan to cut staff and service further in Levin despite huge profits More >>
Unemployment figures a wakeup call
Thursday, 3 November 2011, 5:16 pm | First Union
Today’s reported increase in unemployment should be a wakeup call for the government, FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid said. More >>
Billion dollar bank has no justification to wind down brand
Thursday, 3 November 2011, 2:33 pm | First Union
Media Release: FIRST Union Thursday November 4, 2011 Billion dollar bank has no justification to wind down National brand The announcement by ANZ National that their net profit has jumped by 25 per cent to $1.08 billion should cause the bank to reconsider their ... More >>
Westpac to hit profit jackpot off the back of customers
Wednesday, 2 November 2011, 1:39 pm | First Union
Westpac’s strong cash earnings growth shows that the big Australian banks have not only survived but thrived during a global recession on the back off their own staff and customers, says the union for bank workers. More >>
OCR on hold good for workers
Thursday, 27 October 2011, 10:19 am | First Union
Workers feeling the pinch from high living costs will welcome interest rates staying put, FIRST Union Finance Sector Secretary Andrew Casidy said today. More >>
