Monthly Archives: July 2024

On July 11, workers at ASP Security Services Inc. in Toronto joined UFCW Local 1006A for the better wages and benefits that come with a union contract. The bargaining unit consists of seven members, who work as security guards.

“Union representation provides workers with the collective power to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions,” said UFCW Local 1006A President Wayne Hanley. “I’m proud to congratulate the workers from ASP on becoming unionized.”

“I’m proud and inspired by our members’ determination and solidarity in achieving their goal of union representation,” said UFCW Local 1006A Director of Organizing Lesley Prince.

UFCW Local 1006A represents 8,000 workers in the security guard sector.

On July 23, cannabis workers at the Lume dispensary in Escanaba, Mich., voted to join UFCW Local 1473, marking the first time a cannabis shop in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula voted to unionize. Eighteen budtenders or “luminaries,” including lead budtenders, make up the unionized staff at the store, with a majority of the workers voting “yes” to join the union.

“UFCW Local 1473 is the cannabis union in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and all of Wisconsin,” said UFCW Local 1473 President Jake Bailey. “These workers saw the importance of union representation and have stood together in solidarity to form their very own union.  You can see by the outcome of the vote earlier today that these workers have remained steadfast at gaining a true voice in the workplace.  We are proud to take the next step with the workers and bargain their first agreement.” 

“Today we showed the world that when workers stand together, we win,” said Amanda Levesque, a Lume luminary who was part of the organizing process. “I’m so proud of my fellow budtenders for coming together to make the decision to pave a new path by being the first cannabis shop in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to vote for union representation. We hope to inspire cannabis workers across the state and the country to join together to fight for a more just and prosperous future for the industry.”

“Every day when we clock in, we give the job our all to ensure our customers have the best experience possible and help make Lume the successful brand it is,” Levesque added. “We look forward to bargaining a strong contract that gives us the protections we need and reflects the hard work we put into this job day in and day out.”