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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 1]
Maranga Ake: Why FIRST Union Is Joining The Fight
Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 9:08 am | First Union
"We’re joining the movement today because our country’s sovereignty and working freedoms are being compromised by politicians selling out our lawmaking to overseas companies like Uber," said Mr Maga. More >>
Public Petition For Full Funding Launched As St John Ambos Kick Off Next National Strikes
Thursday, 26 September 2024, 6:31 pm | FIRST Union
"Strike actions like these are the last resort after what has now been 10 months of unsuccessful bargaining with St John," said Faye McCann, FIRST Union national ambulance coordinator. More >>
Auckland SeaLink Ferry Workers To Strike Over Growing Wage Gap
Thursday, 19 September 2024, 12:47 pm | First Union
Justin Wallace, FIRST Union organiser, said workers had not received improvements to wages and conditions that get them in line with what had been provided by Auckland Transport to other contracted ferry services, and it has made the membership feel ... More >>
Oji’s Penrose Mill Confirms Closure, With 75 Workers Facing Redundancy
Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 10:39 am | First Union
Today’s news follows confirmation last week that Winstone Pulp International (WPI) will close its two Ruapehu mills and make over 200 workers redundant. More >>
Future Of 75 Jobs At Auckland Pulp Mill In The Balance
Monday, 16 September 2024, 12:39 pm | First Union
Oji Fibre Solutions announced to its Penrose staff last month that it was considering closure and entered into a 4 week consultation period with the workforce and their unions, FIRST and E tū, followed by a 2 week decision period. More >>
Woolworths Walkout A Success But Company Must Stop The Spin And Intimidation
Monday, 16 September 2024, 2:26 am | First Union
Thousands of Woolworths workers staged a two-hour strike demanding a living wage and safer staffing, as union leaders condemned company intimidation tactics during ongoing negotiations. More >>
Workers Gutted At "Tragic" Outcome For WPI's Ruapehu Mills
Monday, 16 September 2024, 2:18 am | First Union
Winstone Pulp International has confirmed the closure of Karioi pulp mill and Tangiwai sawmill, jeopardising around 300 jobs and upsetting the local community amid rising electricity prices. More >>
Woolworths Walkout: Thousands Of Supermarket Workers Set To Strike At Midday Tomorrow
Monday, 16 September 2024, 2:05 am | FIRST Union
Woolworths workers across New Zealand plan a national strike on 10th September, protesting against low wages and understaffing amid ongoing failed negotiations with the company. More >>
NZ Needs A Safe Rates System To Protect Transport Drivers And Other Road Users
Sunday, 15 September 2024, 12:04 am | First Union
Lance Gush, FIRST Union organiser, emphasised the importance of a Safe Rates system in Aotearoa for both drivers and other road users. More >>
Ambulance Officers Vote To Strike Again After Rejecting Ratification Of St John Offer
Friday, 13 September 2024, 2:24 pm | FIRST Union
FIRST Union rejected the offer by a large margin and have voted for a longer second unpaid withdrawal of labour that aims to communicate the urgent need for funding fair pay increases. More >>
Historic Win For Drivers As Uber Appeal Dismissed; Minister Must Halt Contractor Law Changes
Monday, 26 August 2024, 12:37 pm | First Union
FIRST Union General Secretary, Dennis Maga, says the Court of Appeal’s verdict is heartening and motivating for the drivers and unions against a backdrop of anti-worker reforms under the National Government. More >>
Mayors’ Proposal To Avoid Mill Closures Welcomed By FIRST Union
Friday, 23 August 2024, 2:20 pm | First Union
Under the terms of the FIRST Union and E tū members’ Collective Agreement with WPI, the company presented a proposal to close the mill to workers and unions on Tuesday this week. The Agreement provided for a consultation period for unions and ... More >>
Hundreds Of Manufacturing Jobs Under Threat At WPI As Mill Operators Propose Closure
Tuesday, 20 August 2024, 5:16 pm | First Union
Around 230 workers at Winstone Pulp International’s (WPI) Karioi Pulpmill and Tangiwai Sawmill are reeling from today’s announcement that WPI will commence consultation over the permanent closure of both mills, primarily due to the high cost of electricity. More >>
UNEMIG Statement On The The Human Rights Commission Review Of The AEWV Scheme
Tuesday, 20 August 2024, 1:23 pm | First Union
The review highlighted the core issue that the AEWV remains tied to a single employer, creating a massive power imbalance and putting the migrant worker at a significant disadvantage. More >>
Ambulance Officers To Rally As St John Withdrawal Of Labour Begins
Monday, 19 August 2024, 4:52 pm | FIRST Union
The unions rejected an unexpected 11th hour settlement proposal by St John late last week and are querying why funding has suddenly been made available in the final moments before strike action, and contingent on the withdrawal of the planned strike action. More >>
Unions: RSE Changes Will Deepen Exploitation Of Migrant Workers
Friday, 16 August 2024, 8:12 am | First Union
FIRST Union and NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are strongly opposed to the Government's changes to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme, which will mean the wages of many migrant workers will be cut, while forcing them to pay even more for accommodation. More >>
Union Bracing For Further Job Cuts: Call For Urgent Action On Energy Pricing
Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 12:40 pm | First Union
"The response of the Government so far has been really disappointing, with Ministers seemingly more interested in blaming the previous Labour government rather than addressing the real problem at hand," said Dennis Maga, General Secretary of FIRST Union. More >>
Woolworths Strike: Staff Asked To Dress Up In Disney Costumes For A Week On Their Own Dollar
Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 7:35 am | First Union
FIRST Union members say a request for all supermarket staff to ‘voluntarily’ dress up in Disney costumes that they must pay themselves this week is in "poor taste" and indicative of the company’s wasteful spending during the largest strike action ... More >>
Woolworths Workers Unfazed By Intimidation As First Strike Action Succeeds
Friday, 9 August 2024, 8:41 am | First Union
Ross Lampert, FIRST Union national coordinator for retail food, said strike actions had united and energised workers and there had been an overwhelming level of support from customers, who have been asking the union for how they can support striking ... More >>
OJI Fibre To Close Penrose Recycle Pulp Mill Due To High Cost Of Energy
Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 11:12 am | First Union
"This has come like a bolt out of the blue for workers and was completely unexpected," said Justin Wallace, organiser for FIRST Union, which represents production workers on site. More >>
