Posts Categorized: Cannabis

On March 22, workers at Vireo Health’s Maryland Medical Solutions in Hurlock, Md., voted to join UFCW Local 27 to ensure they receive the good pay and benefits they have earned. Vireo Health’s Maryland Medical Solutions is a physician-led, patient-focused medical cannabis grower and processor.

Workers at the facility were excited to join our union family.

“I’m excited to be able to negotiate over wage increases that would allow for things like a savings account,” said Ian Stenzer.

“It’s exciting to know that we will have job security and will have the power to bargain for improvements to our jobs,” added Blaine Hill.

“Congratulations to the hard-working men and women of Vireo’s Maryland Medical Solutions,” said UFCW Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. “They have empowered themselves with the tools for a better future. We look forward to negotiating the best contract that we can for the workers and their families.”

The August 24th signing ceremony of UFCW Local 21 and the adult-use cannabis retailer Have a Heart made history as the first contract between a union and an adult-use cannabis retailer in the state. Have a Heart is a recreational and medical marijuana retail operation which operates five stores in Washington. The event was covered by local CBS and ABC TV stations, The Seattle Times, Bloomberg, and other news outlets.

The three-year contract, which currently covers 134 Have a Heart employees, improves wages and benefits and provides the workers with a voice in the workplace. The new agreement also includes comprehensive health and welfare coverage and other benefits, as well as trainings, mentoring programs and staff-development opportunities. Most impactful to growing our union, the employer agreed to a union recognition process for new facilities in Washington and around the country.

“This relationship is quite unusual in a very positive sense,” said UFCW Local 21 President Todd Crosby. “It’s rare for an employer and their employees to reach a first contract so quickly and one that is so promising for its current and future employees. These partnerships strengthen individuals, families and communities – and lead to superior service for customers.”

“At Have a Heart, we believe in ‘doing good,’” said Have a Heart CEO Ryan Kunkel. “We consistently strive to have a positive impact in the neighborhoods where we do business, and we see our partnership with UFCW 21 as part of our commitment to creating a safe and empowering workplace.”