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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 45]
Union pleased that Whitcoulls workers spared redundancies
Friday, 4 March 2011, 9:27 am | National Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union says that it is pleased that no New Zealand workers are included in the first 321 redundancies announced by the administrators of REDgroup Retail, the former owners of the Whitcoulls and Borders bookstores in NZ. More >>
If ANZ dumps National Bank it also dumps staff
Wednesday, 2 March 2011, 11:35 am | Finsec
Bank workers' union Finsec says that any truth to the rumour, reported in the National Business Review last week, that ANZ is pushing through with dumping the National Bank would show contempt for the bank's staff, customers and all New Zealanders. More >>
Banks profits reward CEOs and shareholders only
Friday, 11 February 2011, 11:17 am | Finsec
Bank workers’ union Finsec says the release of PwC data today showing the banks have returned to steady, high profits will provide little comfort to bank staff and customers who are still experiencing the effects of the crisis. More >>
Economy and workers loose out under minimum wage increase
Monday, 7 February 2011, 4:23 pm | National Distribution Union
The government has lost an opportunity to add more stimulus to the economy and give better help to low income workers with today’s minimum wage decision, the National Distribution Union said today. More >>
Latest unemployment stats show risk of a jobless recovery
Thursday, 3 February 2011, 12:10 pm | National Distribution Union
New Zealand is at risk of having a jobless economic recovery, the National Distribution Union warned today. Latest jobs statistics show unemployment has risen to 6.8 per cent in the December quarter. More >>
Minimum wage: Twenty five cents won’t pay the rent
Tuesday, 1 February 2011, 12:22 pm | National Distribution Union
Twenty five cents an hour extra will do almost nothing to transform the economy and help minimum wage workers facing rising living costs, the National Distribution Union said today. The NDU has written to Cabinet Ministers ahead of today’s expected ... More >>
Wood industry meeting constructive, but differences remain
Wednesday, 26 January 2011, 2:36 pm | National Distribution Union
Unions representing wood processing workers said that while a meeting with government today was constructive, there remain serious differences on solutions for the jobs crisis in wood processing. Together with industry representatives, the National Distribution ... More >>
Minimum wage: twenty five cents won't do it
Wednesday, 26 January 2011, 2:36 pm | National Distribution Union
A union representing middle and low income workers says 25 cents an hour extra will do little to help workers on the minimum wage. The Prime Minister told a post cabinet press conference this afternoon that 2 percent was a likely figure for the minimum ... More >>
KiwiRail must honour commitment for local content
Thursday, 20 January 2011, 3:51 pm | National Distribution Union
KiwiRail must honour the local content provisions it put in tender documents for the construction of Auckland’s new trains, rail workers say. Tenders close this week for the $500 million job to build 38 three-car electric multiple units and 13 ... More >>
Campaign Demands End to Secrecy in Trade Talks
Wednesday, 19 January 2011, 12:55 pm | National Distribution Union
TPPWatch, a coalition of New Zealand unions, groups and individuals who oppose the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement has launched a “release the text” sign-on letter to Prime Minister John Key, via its webpage TPPWatch.org ... More >>
[NDU] Wood redundancies require a government response
Tuesday, 18 January 2011, 4:57 pm | National Distribution Union
Today’s 44 redundancies at Tangiwai Sawmill has prompted the union representing workers in the wood industries to call for more action from government to address the issues confronted by the sector. WPI has reduced its Tangiwai Mill workforce ... More >>
NDU: Minimum wage increase needed to stimulate economy
Monday, 17 January 2011, 2:47 pm | National Distribution Union
A substantial increase in the minimum wage is needed to both help low income workers and add further stimulus to the economy, the National Distribution Union (NDU) said today. The government is expected to announce soon whether the minimum wage will ... More >>
Spare a thought for those at work over the holidays
Sunday, 26 December 2010, 10:48 am | National Distribution Union
Media Release: National Distribution Union Saturday December 25, 2010. Spare a thought for those at work over the holidays The National Distribution Union is asking the public to spare a thought for people working on Christmas Day and other public holidays ... More >>
ACC privatisation Xmas Pressy For Aussie Insurance companies
Tuesday, 21 December 2010, 4:46 pm | Finsec
Bank workers’ union Finsec says the Government’s plan to offer Australian owned insurance companies access to New Zealand workplace insurance is a Christmas present to the industry but a disaster for workers and the economy. More >>
Defending Clothing Jobs
Wednesday, 15 December 2010, 11:51 am | National Distribution Union
The union representing textile and clothing workers in New Zealand has reacted positively to the announcement that Yakka Apparel Solutions (YASL) has been awarded a five year contract to supply clothing and personal support items to the NZ Defence Force. More >>
Redundancies announced as economic outlook worsens
Wednesday, 15 December 2010, 9:24 am | National Distribution Union
Today's worsening economic outlook will be felt especially hard in Kawerau, where 26 sawmill workers have just been told they are to lose their jobs. More >>
Finsec backs unemployed workers’ message to banks
Monday, 6 December 2010, 12:07 pm | finsec
Bank workers’ union Finsec is supporting today’s action by unemployed workers to show the human face of unemployment. “The banks need to show compassion to the jobless,” said Finsec General Secretary Andrew Casidy. “Bank economists and their ... More >>
Groups Urge PMs To Reject US Investment Demands This Week
Sunday, 5 December 2010, 10:29 am | National Distribution Union
Days before talks in Auckland on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, civil society groups from Australia and NZ have sent a joint open letter to their PMs urging them to adopt a progressive and balanced approach to foreign investment. More >>
Leaked NZ Paper Reveals Rift With US In Agreement
Sunday, 5 December 2010, 10:20 am | National Distribution Union
On the eve of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Auckland, a leaked negotiating document has exposed a fundamental conflict between the US and New Zealand positions on intellectual property. More >>
English should work with Aussies to fix CEO pay
Thursday, 18 November 2010, 3:41 pm | Finsec
Bank workers’ union Finsec is urging Finance Minister Bill English to work with his Australian counterpart Wayne Swan on rules governing bank executive pay. More >>
