Members of UFCW Local 5 who work at Stiiizy Mission, a cannabis dispensary in San Francisco, recently ratified an industry-leading contract that raises wages and improves benefits. The workers joined UFCW Local 5 in July.
The three-year contract, which was ratified unanimously, includes salary increases that average $3 per hour over the life of the contract, a pathway to full-time work, employer provided health insurance, and an employer sponsored retirement savings account.
“The contract with Stiiizy/Shryne Group is a great example of when the union and employers partner together to make the cannabis industry a place where you can have a career,” said UFCW Local 5 Strategic Campaigns Director Jim Araby. “We look forward to working with Stiiizy to grow union jobs across the industry so workers can have a voice on the job and stay in the industry if they choose to.”
“It has been a long process, but it’s all worth it in the end,” said Kat Gonzalez, a budtender at Stiiizy Mission. “It feels good to know we have a team like UFCW Local 5 behind us to protect our rights as workers and help us advance in our careers within the cannabis industry. Every position is important in cannabis and being a part of the union ensures that budtenders are the backbone of the cannabis industry. We are not disposable, and our jobs deserve protection. It feels great to have that recognized.”