The National Distribution Union (NDU) and Finsec have joined forces to create FIRST Union, which organisers say will represent 28,000 workers.

The NDU's 23,000 members are in retail, transport, textiles and wood while Finsec represents 5000 finance sector workers.

FIRST officially launches on Thursday and general secretary Robert Reid says it will give a new generation of workers the opportunity to discover the power of working collectively.