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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 5]
Budget 2023: Boost Benefits And Support The Vulnerable With A Fairer Tax System
Wednesday, 17 May 2023, 12:04 pm | FIRST Union
Tomorrow’s Budget should aim to support working people during the cost of living crisis by committing to boost benefits, extend universal public services like half-price public transport fares, and to properly fund Fair Pay Agreements. This should be ... More >>
Bank Workers Not Seeing Record Profits Reflected In Their Wages
Friday, 21 April 2023, 9:23 am | FIRST Union
Bank workers in New Zealand have not received pay increases that are anywhere near commensurate with continued profits of the ‘Big Four’ (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac) over recent years, and banks must use upcoming national bargaining periods to demonstrate ... More >>
Pay Increases For South Island Bus Drivers Ahead Of FPA Negotiations
Thursday, 6 April 2023, 5:53 pm | FIRST Union
Bus drivers in Dunedin, Christchurch and Timaru have all received pay increases over the last week following negotiation between unions, Government and regional councils, and FIRST Union Southern Regional Secretary Paul Watson says a pathway ... More >>
Out-of-touch Reserve Bank Putting Unemployment Ahead Of Wellbeing
Wednesday, 5 April 2023, 6:24 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is seeking answers on how rising unemployment, slower wage growth and less affordable housing can be squared off against the Government's commitment to the wellbeing of New Zealanders following today’s unexpected 50 basis point Official ... More >>
Brown’s Budget Would Be A Financial And Moral Disaster For Auckland
Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 9:24 am | FIRST Union
Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed 2023/24 Budget for Auckland is both morally reprehensible and financially calamitous, according to FIRST Union’s submission to Auckland Council on the Budget (attached) , which argues for an alternative route that trades Brown’s ... More >>
First FPA In Aotearoa Confirmed - Bus Drivers To Begin Negotiations
Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 6:05 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union bus drivers have today become the first group of workers in the country’s history to successfully initiate a Fair Pay Agreement following its approval by MBIE , and it will now progress to the negotiating stage, where drivers will aim to build ... More >>
Banking Union Calls For Levy On Bank Profits
Tuesday, 21 March 2023, 10:17 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the union for bank workers across New Zealand, is supporting calls for an immediate inquiry into bank profits and proposing a levy on excess profits to fund the establishment of a Ministry of Green Works . The March 2023 KPMG Financial ... More >>
Clarificatory Note Requested By The Ministry Of Social Development
Tuesday, 28 February 2023, 7:09 pm | First Union
Attributed to Mikee Santos, UNEMIG coordinator. " We’d like to clarify that anyone who is in New Zealand on a valid work visa can apply for a Civil Defence Payment, this includes RSE workers." "How much someone can get depends on their ... More >>
FIRST Union And FISC Highlight Urgent Need For Forestry Worker Assistance
Thursday, 23 February 2023, 2:03 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union and the Forestry Industry Safety Council (FISC) met with the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) sector engagement team for Forestry and Wood Processing, as well as the Ministry of Social Development, today to discuss the impact of Cyclone ... More >>
NZ Uber Drivers Initiate Bargaining For First Ever Collective Agreement
Monday, 13 February 2023, 7:14 am | FIRST Union
Hundreds of Uber drivers who have unionised following their landmark Employment Court victory in October 2022 have initiated bargaining with the company for their first ever collective agreement in Aotearoa, FIRST Union confirmed today. "This ... More >>
Fair Pay Gathers Pace: Over 1000 Signatures Submitted As Bus And Supermarket FPAs Underway
Friday, 23 December 2022, 12:02 pm | FIRST Union
Over a thousand bus drivers and supermarket workers have signed and submitted documents registering their support for Fair Pay Agreements in their respective industries, confirming the necessary minimum number of workers to initiate negotiations for fairer ... More >>
School Bus Funding Boost "The Best Christmas Present You Could Get"
Wednesday, 21 December 2022, 2:07 pm | FIRST Union
Today’s announcement of $26 million in funding to raise rural school bus driver wages shows a commitment to improving bus driver working conditions and ending the driver shortage, according to FIRST Union. "Today’s announcement will go a ... More >>
Government Throwing Away Progress On Public Transport
Wednesday, 14 December 2022, 1:39 pm | FIRST Union
Today’s decision by Government to end universal half-price public transport from April next year is a short-sighted and unnecessary move that endangers our national modal shift when positive action on climate change and the high cost of living is ... More >>
Union Members At Fletchers’ EasySteel Win Substantial Pay Rise
Wednesday, 14 December 2022, 10:57 am | First Union
FIRST Union and E tū Union members who work at two Fletcher-owned EasySteel sites in Auckland and Christchurch have last week voted unanimously to accept an 8.75% wage increase in their new Collective Agreement that will see them through the next ... More >>
Paper And Pulp Workers Locked Out In ‘Standover Tactic’ From Oji Fibre
Thursday, 8 December 2022, 4:14 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union and E tū pulp and paper workers, who on Tuesday confirmed an intention to withdraw their labour from multi-national giant Oji Fibre Solutions’ Penrose Mill from December 10th, have been locked out by their employer in an aggressive ... More >>
Unions Send Notice To Withdraw Labour From Major Recycler
Wednesday, 7 December 2022, 12:02 pm | FIRST Union
First Union and E tū members at Oji Fibre Solutions’ Penrose Mill have today sent notice of their intention to take industrial action by withdrawing their labour from December 10th for five working days. Workers at the mill, which is part of the ... More >>
Hundreds Of Drivers Lodging Backpay Claims With Uber
Wednesday, 7 December 2022, 7:05 am | First Union
Hundreds of Uber drivers who say they’re owed thousands of dollars in backpay by Uber have today begun submitting their claims to the Employment Relations Authority. FIRST Union, the union representing these drivers, says the claims will continue ... More >>
OCR Hike Disproportionately Hurts Workers - Time For A New Approach
Thursday, 24 November 2022, 1:26 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union is concerned that yesterday’s unprecedented 75 basis point OCR hike will unnecessarily punish lower-income workers and is calling for a new approach that shares the burden more appropriately. "Yesterday’s monetary policy statement ... More >>
50th Anniversary Of End Of Compulsory Military Training Remembered
Wednesday, 23 November 2022, 12:09 pm | FIRST Union
This weekend sees the 50th anniversary celebration of the short but successful 1972 campaign to get rid of compulsory military training for 19-year-old males in Aotearoa / New Zealand. Campaigners and military service resisters will meet in Wellington ... More >>
Countdown Workers Sign Major New Deal That Could Form Basis For FPA
Thursday, 3 November 2022, 5:31 am | First Union
Thousands of FIRST Union members at Countdown supermarkets have voted to accept a significant new 2-year Collective Agreement that includes wage increases of around 12%, a starting Living Wage, improvements to pandemic leave and sick leave, and commitments ... More >>
