On May 25, UFCW Local 7 and 1625, along with Union Harvest and Nature’s Root Labs, announced the first-ever national agreement to unionize the entire workforce of a joint cannabis venture. This agreement between the UFCW and these companies in Longmont, Colo., marks a first of its kind, across-the-board unionized CBD joint venture that sets a precedent for even more workers in the industry to unionize.
UFCW Local 7 in Colorado will represent workers in production and packaging at Nature’s Root Labs in Longmont, which is the manufacturer for Union Harvest. UFCW Local 1625 in Florida will represent CBD workers in purchasing, sales, and worker/customer education at Union Harvest’s Clearwater location. With CBD now available to purchase nationwide, this UFCW deal with Union Harvest and Nature’s Root Labs is the first-ever national union contract for CBD workers and has the potential to transform the country’s $13.3 billion CBD market.
“Job security is important, especially during a pandemic,” said Ataya Arreguin, who works at Nature’s Root Labs. “I have two kids and throughout the past year, I have been worried about losing my job because of the pandemic. Now that we have a union, I feel even more confident that these jobs are secure and that they can become a great career that help us build a better life for us and our families.”
“We are committed to running a pro-union company that will produce and sell high quality CBD products to consumers across the nation and honor the hard work of our employees with a union contract,” said Union Harvest Managing Director and Founder Justin Eisenach. “That means higher wages and better benefits, as well as giving workers a voice, which can be critical in any business, but particularly important in an emerging industry such as cannabis. Having a good relationship with our employees is important and a signed union contract is part of that. Now consumers will have a choice when they purchase CBD and can buy USA union-made, union-packed, union-sold products.”
“We are excited about this new contract and our role to expand into this national market,” said UFCW Local 7 President Kim Cordova. “The past year has demonstrated the need and benefits of having a unionized workplace, and we feel that Union Harvest, the customers, and the workers will all be better off with this agreement and contract in place.”
“We feel this is a very positive development for workers and consumers here in Florida and across the nation,” said UFCW Local 1625 President Ed Chambers. “CBD can be a very important and helpful product for so many people, but until today they have not had a chance to purchase from a USA-made union product.”