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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 46]
Westpac CEO pay unethical says union
Wednesday, 17 November 2010, 8:43 am | finsec
Bank workers' union Finsec says the $5.59 million pay package of Westpac CEO George Frazis is unethical given the current economic conditions and the tax payer support of the bank over the past year. More >>
Shop worker disappointed with employment vote
Thursday, 11 November 2010, 2:56 pm | National Distribution Union
Shop worker disappointed with employment vote today Shop worker Margaret Dornan is gutted that Parliament has ignored her submission on employment law changes, being debated in Parliament this afternoon. Margaret said that she and several other members ... More >>
Deregulation policies have failed the economy
Wednesday, 3 November 2010, 2:29 pm | National Distribution Union
Don Brash’s deregulation policies are the same ones that sent the global economy into recession, and will do nothing to close the Australian wage gap, the National Distribution Union said today. More >>
Economists’ statement on unemployment offensive
Wednesday, 3 November 2010, 11:52 am | finsec
Bank workers union Finsec says the BNZ economists who think that unemployment in 2008 was artificially low should spend some time with those looking for work to better understand the full impact of being jobless. More >>
Union wage settlements outstrip average
Tuesday, 2 November 2010, 12:04 pm | National Distribution Union
Workers who are in unions are winning wage increases far in excess of the national average, a private sector union said today. More >>
Govt Committee calls 90 day law offensive - to Key
Wednesday, 20 October 2010, 10:55 am | National Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union is disgusted with a letter sent to one of its retail worker members by the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. More >>
Australian and International Unions Join protest
Wednesday, 13 October 2010, 1:01 pm | National Distribution Union
The Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) has travelled to New Zealand to support a dozen Transpacific employees on a one-week strike after the management of the multinational company told the workers the offer was reflective of pay increases across their global ... More >>
Easter trading status quo best for workers
Wednesday, 8 September 2010, 4:37 pm | National Distribution Union
The best way to protect workers under the Easter trading law is to vote to retain the status quo, the union for retail workers says. More >>
Retailers not serious about Easter trading vote
Tuesday, 7 September 2010, 5:47 pm | National Distribution Union
Retailers are not serious about tomorrow night’s vote on Easter trading, after a hastily conducted lobbying effort got basic details about MPs wrong, and is itself contradictory, the union for retail workers says. More >>
Staff take action against less than perfect banks
Friday, 3 September 2010, 10:45 am | finsec
Staff across ANZ and National banks are holding a day of action today in response to proposals by the bank to drive down wages, for failing to address customer debt targets and refusing to rule out further job offshoring. More >>
ANZ staff to work 10 days straight
Thursday, 2 September 2010, 11:43 am | finsec
ANZ staff who work in a Wellington-based call centre that handles calls from customers in Australia are going public over their employment conditions which can see them work up to 10 days straight and in unhealthy shift patterns. More >>
A tale of two banks
Saturday, 28 August 2010, 3:35 pm | finsec
A tale of two banks Westpac staff celebrate settlement - Public campaign launched by staff against ANZ More >>
ASB reverse mortgages sign of a risky return
Friday, 27 August 2010, 3:15 pm | finsec
The return of risky lending products and loosening lending criteria are a sign that banks have learnt nothing from the global financial crisis and recession says finance workers’ union Finsec. More >>
Unions closing Australian wage gap
Thursday, 26 August 2010, 4:32 pm | National Distribution Union
New research from Victoria University shows workers in unions are closing the wage gap with Australia much quicker than their non-union workmates. More >>
1700 strong turnout at Auckland worker meetings
Thursday, 19 August 2010, 2:23 pm | National Distribution Union
1700 workers packed two Auckland venues this morning to discuss changes to employment law that are being debated in Parliament this afternoon. More >>
400 West Aucklanders speak out against work cuts
Wednesday, 18 August 2010, 10:34 am | National Distribution Union
400 workers attended a meeting in West Auckland today to discuss National's proposed changes to the Employment Relations and Holidays Acts, which were tabled in Parliament this afternoon. More >>
Fisher & Paykel union formed in Thailand
Monday, 9 August 2010, 9:14 am | National Distribution Union
The Fisher & Paykel Labour Union of Thailand was launched in Rayong, Thailand this morning with support from National Distribution Union (NDU) and Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU), which represent F&P workers in New Zealand. More >>
Global Unionism At Work: F&P Union For Thailand
Sunday, 8 August 2010, 4:47 pm | National Distribution Union
The Fisher & Paykel Labour Union of Thailand was launched in Rayong, Thailand this morning with support from National Distribution Union (NDU) and Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union (EPMU), which represent F&P workers in New Zealand. More >>
Easter for families and communities, not commerce
Thursday, 5 August 2010, 6:04 pm | National Distribution Union
Shop workers, community groups and churches will be among those opposing new attempts to open shops at Easter, the union for retail workers says. More >>
Unemployment positively impacted by union wage set
Thursday, 5 August 2010, 11:36 am | National Distribution Union
Workers in unions who are winning wage increases well in excess of the national average are helping to stimulate demand in the economy, but the government needs to be doing much more to keep workers in jobs, a union says. More >>
