The latest results from the 2015 installment of Gallup’s annual Work and Education survey show that Americans’ approval of labor unions has jumped five percentage points to 58% over the past year, and is now at its highest point since 2008, when 59% approved. Consistent with the recent increase in approval of unions, the percentage of Americans saying they would like labor unions to have more influence in the country has also been rising, and now stands at 37%, up from 25% in 2009. Meanwhile, the percentage wanting unions to have less influence has declined from 42% to 35%.
UFCW Cannabis Members First in Industry to Receive OSHA Safety Training
L-R Miguel Gonzales from Agile Otter Enterprises in Tacoma, Wash., Tim Moisio from Cannabis Club Collective in Tacoma, Wash., and then Dan Apodaca from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
UFCW members are well aware of the high priority their union places on their health and safety at work. Over the years, thousands of UFCW members have attended safety trainings to learn how to make their workplaces safer. Recently, though, these classes had a new addition: members of UFCW’s Cannabis Workers Rising program from unionized shops in Washington and New Mexico recently participated in a three day safety program in Las Vegas.
The three workers, from Agile Otter Enterprises, Natural RX and Cannabis Club Collective, all received the OSHA ten hour card and learned advanced workplace safety and health concepts from UFCW trainers.
“We’re going to build a safe, professional industry,” said Tim Moisio, a UFCW Local 367 member from Tacoma, Washington. “A worker voice and worker knowledge is critical to ensuring the cannabis industry is both sustainable and reliable. My union puts safety first and now I have the tools to ensure my workplace does too.”