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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 50]
Inquiry shows need for govt to act for consumers
Wednesday, 11 November 2009, 4:29 pm | Finsec
Bank workers’ union Finsec says a parliamentary banking inquiry by Labour, the Progressives and the Greens has shown the government needs to act to protect consumers. The inquiry confirmed that major banks had not passed on the full benefit of OCR ... More >>
New Developments in Auckland Bus Dispute
Saturday, 7 November 2009, 11:19 am | National Distribution Union
The current standoff in the Auckland bus dispute has been broken with members of the National Distribution Union voting to withdraw from the combined unions and to approach NZBus to sign up to an agreement based on the offer that was agreed to between ... More >>
New Developments in Auckland Bus Dispute
Friday, 6 November 2009, 5:06 pm | National Distribution Union
The current standoff in the Auckland bus dispute has been broken with members of the National Distribution Union voting to withdraw from the combined unions and to approach NZBus to sign up to an agreement based on the offer that was agreed to between ... More >>
Bus Drivers Want Better Deal
Thursday, 5 November 2009, 9:54 am | National Distribution Union
Auckland bus drivers rejected an offer from Infratil/NZ Bus to settle their combined employment agreement at a stop work meeting today. Around 700 drivers spent over two hours discussing the offer before voting in a secret ballot to reject it. Combined ... More >>
New Zealand Couriers Workers on Strike
Tuesday, 3 November 2009, 10:28 am | National Distribution Union
Around 30 dispatch workers at NZ Couriers Penrose site began a strike for improved wages this morning. NDU organiser Mark Muller says the workers collective agreement expired at the end of June and negotiations have been dragging on since then. “The ... More >>
Ford workers on strike
Friday, 23 October 2009, 9:18 am | National Distribution Union
Workers at Ford NZ are on strike in protest at a nil wage offer from the company. The firm supplies Ford and Mazda auto parts for the whole of New Zealand. More >>
Public short changed by banks’ tax avoidance
Friday, 9 October 2009, 10:21 am | Finsec
Finance workers’ union Finsec says the public have been short changed by two major banks who owe the government over $1.6 billion in outstanding tax. More >>
Union sends condolences to Samoan & Tongan people
Thursday, 1 October 2009, 3:33 pm | National Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union passes on its condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in the tsunami. More >>
Textile union welcomes continued tariff freeze
Thursday, 1 October 2009, 2:22 pm | National Distribution Union
“Textile workers welcome today’s announcement by Tim Groser and Simon Power that the Government will continue the freeze on unilateral tariff reductions by postponing the tariff review for another four years,” says Robert Reid, General Secretary ... More >>
Sue Bradford back to the Parliament of the Streets
Friday, 25 September 2009, 3:43 pm | National Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union says it will greatly miss Sue Bradford’s presence in Parliament, but is looking forward to working with her wherever she now chooses to put her energies. “Sue has always been in the struggle alongside, and an advocate ... More >>
Finance workers acknowledge Sue Bradford
Friday, 25 September 2009, 11:33 am | Finsec
Finance workers’union Finsec says Sue Bradford’s decision to resign as a Green MP is a major loss to all the workers that she has been a vocal advocate for in Parliament. “Sue never wavered in her support for workers during her time as an MP. Her office ... More >>
Uncertainty of six week lockout starts tonight
Friday, 25 September 2009, 11:31 am | National Distribution Union
Open Country Cheese worker Cheyenne Kaukau is disappointed with his company’s refusal to negotiate with them for a collective agreement, as workers face the uncertainty of a six week lockout period which starts tonight. More >>
Bridgeman Lockout Ends
Thursday, 24 September 2009, 10:22 am | National Distribution Union
The NDU has reached agreement with Bridgeman Concrete today that settles the Collective Agreement and sees Bridgman lift the more than week long lock-out of its workers. The new agreement resolves the impasse on redundancy selection criteria that had ... More >>
Employer Militancy Grows
Wednesday, 16 September 2009, 9:56 am | National Distribution Union
“An indefinite lock-out of workers by Bridgeman Concrete in Manukau City shows increasing employer militancy taking advantage of the recession and growing unemployment,” says Robert Reid, General Secretary of the National Distribution Union. “This lock-out, ... More >>
"Bitter Sweet" Payout for Wairarapa LWR Workers
Monday, 14 September 2009, 9:44 am | National Distribution Union
This week’s 18 cent in the dollar payment to redundant Wairarapa Lane Walker Rudkin workers is described as “bitter sweet” by Robert Reid, General Secretary of the NDU, the union representing the redundant workers. “The sweetness for workers receiving ... More >>
South Island Foodstuffs Workers Strike Again
Sunday, 13 September 2009, 1:43 pm | National Distribution Union
Workers employed by Foodstuffs in Christchurch will walk off the job and protest outside the Northlands Pak n Save at 2.30 pm today. More >>
Bus Drivers Reject Pay Offer
Saturday, 12 September 2009, 1:18 pm | National Distribution Union
Auckland bus drivers have voted overwhelmingly today to reject a pay offer from Infratil on the grounds it would be continuation of poverty wages. More >>
Warehouse Profits at Expense of Workers
Friday, 11 September 2009, 12:54 pm | National Distribution Union
The $8 million profit announced by the Warehouse is in stark contrast to the company’s attempts to give its workers New Zealand’s worst retail employment agreement says the National Distribution Union. More >>
Better redundancy protection needed in hard times
Thursday, 10 September 2009, 11:37 am | National Distribution Union
The National Distribution Union (NDU) is behind a campaign launched today by political parties, unions and beneficiary advocates to ensure all workers are given better redundancy protections in hard times. More >>
Renewal of deposit guarantee fails to protect jobs
Wednesday, 9 September 2009, 4:59 pm | Finsec
Finance workers’ union Finsec says the government has failed Kiwi workers once again by not making the protection of local jobs a condition of the renewal of the Crown Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme bill passed in Parliament today. More >>
