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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 9]
End The Failed Privatisation Experiment And Nationalise Our Buses Now
Thursday, 29 April 2021, 6:57 am | First Union
Last week’s illegal lockout of Wellington-based NZ Bus drivers has yet again shown us that private businesses simply aren’t fit to run New Zealand’s bus systems, with this lockout becoming the latest in a long line of failures and breakdowns under ... More >>
Kmart Workers Leading The Way With Living Wage Offer
Thursday, 22 April 2021, 6:33 am | First Union
Retail workers across the country who are currently bargaining for new Collective Agreements with their employers will be looking to the example of Kmart, who are the first major retailer to negotiate new one-year CA for 2021-22 that includes the ... More >>
A Free Fully-funded Nationwide Ambulance Service Must Be Part Of Health NZ
Wednesday, 21 April 2021, 12:18 pm | First Union
The union representing ambulance officers has called on the Government to include national ambulance services under the newly-announced Health NZ to ensure the service is fully-funded and free to all. "We strongly support the proposed changes to ... More >>
More Calls For Ports Of Auckland CEO's Resignation
Wednesday, 7 April 2021, 2:02 pm | FIRST Union
Three more community leaders have added their names to the call for the resignation of Ports of Auckland CEO, Tony Gibson, in light of the damning Health and Safety report released prior to Easter. Tau Henare, Shane Te Pou and Robert Reid will deliver ... More >>
Poverty Is No Joke
Friday, 2 April 2021, 2:47 pm | First Union
On the 1st of April 2021 (April Fools Day) a range of incremental changes were made to wages as the government lifted the minimum wage to $20 an hour. Benefits also saw a 3.1% increase as they’re now indexed to wages. People receiving benefits ... More >>
Wanaka New World Owners Abusing Holidays Act To Be Inspected
Thursday, 1 April 2021, 3:33 pm | FIRST Union
Two New World Supermarkets in Wanaka intend to open on Good Friday in defiance of the Holidays Act, and the Labour Inspectorate is now investigating the matter following a formal complaint from FIRST Union. FIRST Union Regional Secretary Paul Watson said ... More >>
Driver Safety When Delivering Alcohol Uber’s Responsibility, Says FIRST Union
Thursday, 25 March 2021, 12:46 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union - the union for drivers - says Uber will be held accountable if drivers are harmed whilst delivering alcohol. This comes after the app-based company announced Uber Eats is now offering an alcohol-delivery service and that delivery drivers would ... More >>
FIRST Launches 'Healthy Staffing, Healthy Stores' Campaign As Bargaining Kicks Off All Over NZ
Tuesday, 9 March 2021, 10:32 am | First Union
As thousands of retail workers head into bargaining periods with major employers all over New Zealand to negotiate better wages and conditions, FIRST Union is kicking off a campaign to make the three biggest issues facing workers a central part of ... More >>
NZ Risks Being On The Wrong Side Of History On "vaccine Apartheid"
Wednesday, 3 March 2021, 2:25 pm | FIRST Union
A response from the Minister of Trade to a letter from 42 organisations and noted experts regarding a proposed waiver to WTO intellectual property rules shows that New Zealand risks being on the wrong side of history. "88 percent of WTO members ... More >>
Government Action Needed To Turn Around Wave Of Mill Closures
Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 1:08 pm | FIRST Union
The closure of Whakatane Mill confirms that New Zealand needs to change its policy setting around Governmental procurement of locally processed wood products and secure the wood supply to our processors if we are to avoid further closures and devastating ... More >>
Government Needs To Reprioritise Regulating Gig Work - FIRST Union
Monday, 22 February 2021, 10:16 am | FIRST Union
The transport union, FIRST Union, says the New Zealand Government needs to get back on track with regulating gig work following the UK Supreme Court’s decision to grant Uber drivers rights like paid holidays and minimum wage. In late 2019, the ... More >>
Focus On Workers! Sick Leave Allowance Must Increase
Wednesday, 10 February 2021, 11:56 am | FIRST Union
If New Zealand is serious about building resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic and protecting our communities against future outbreaks, statutory sick leave allowances must increase and the Holidays Act must be amended to better protect workers rather ... More >>
Toll Workers Walk Off The Job For The Second Time
Tuesday, 22 December 2020, 5:42 am | First Union
Workers at Toll Logistics, the third-party logistics arm of global company Toll, have walked off the job today following stalled employment negotiations. The strike is the second in a matter of weeks as the workers seek to protect their current terms ... More >>
New World Workers To Strike On Christmas
Monday, 21 December 2020, 12:06 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union members at Fresh Collective have voted to take strike action through the Christmas rush. Fresh Collective is a boutique brand of New World supermarkets in Auckland’s affluent Mt Albert. The first strike is planned for 1pm - 2pm today ... More >>
Toll Workers Strike To Prevent Pay Cuts
Monday, 14 December 2020, 12:16 pm | First Union
Workers for troubled logistics giant Toll took strike action today to defend pay cuts being proposed to their collective agreement. Around 25 workers (or 70%) of Auckland’s Toll Logistics (the third party logistics arm of global logistics giant ... More >>
Countdown Customer Care Workers To Protest Over Pay Outside Ponsonby Store
Friday, 11 December 2020, 8:28 am | First Union
What: Workers from Countdown’s Customer Care centre in Auckland are taking strike action today and withdrawing their labour to picket outside the company’s Ponsonby store as pay negotiations remain unresolved Where: Outside Countdown Ponsonby, 4 ... More >>
Seventy Workers Losing Jobs As Christchurch Loses Clothing Manufacturer Deane Apparel
Wednesday, 2 December 2020, 3:55 pm | FIRST Union
Well-established New Zealand clothing manufacturer Deane Apparel have today confirmed their intention to close their manufacturing plant in Russley, Christchurch, which will lead to around 70 job losses among their predominantly female workforce and ... More >>
FIRST Union Says Horticulture Industry Must Pay Locals A Living Wage Too
Friday, 27 November 2020, 4:00 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union says horticulture industry must pay locals a living wage too FIRST Union says today’s announcement that the Government is allowing the horticulture industry to bring into the country 2,000 RSE workers if they pay them a living wage shows ... More >>
Countdown Customer Care Workers Take Further Strike Action
Tuesday, 24 November 2020, 11:25 am | FIRST Union
Workers at Countdown’s central Customer Care centre in Auckland are walking off the job this afternoon in their third strike action over underpayment and a disappointing new settlement offer from Countdown that they say is worse than their opening position, ... More >>
Government Must Intervene To Halt Mass Wage Theft
Friday, 20 November 2020, 10:04 am | FIRST Union
FIRST Union, the union representing 1200 Ambulance Professionals at St John, are calling on the Government to intervene in what can only be described as "Mass Wage Theft". FIRST Union has filed for urgency in the Employment Court for compliance ... More >>
