Posts Categorized: Cannabis

Over 45 workers at 17 CBD Kratom and Mr. Nice Guy cannabis dispensaries in Missouri and Illinois joined UFCW Local 655 for a better life on June 7.

These workers are employed at 14 CBD Kratom and Mr. Nice Guy dispensaries in St. Louis and three dispensaries Fairview and Alton, Ill. They joined our union family because they were concerned about insufficient wages, benefits, and health insurance, and wanted job stability and a voice in the workplace. UFCW Local 655 negotiated a neutrality agreement with the employer that allowed for a fair and cooperative process for workers to join a union, and the campaign to organize these workers included reaching out via social media platforms, including WhatsApp messaging, as well as store visits and one-on-one conversations with the workers.

“We’re thrilled to have CBD Kratom and Mr. Nice Guy employees joining our union family,” said UFCW Local 655 President David Cook. “This election shows what we can accomplish when an employer agrees not to engage in an aggressive anti-union campaign and allow their workers to choose what’s best for them.”

In addition to workers at the CBD Kratom and Mr. Nice Guy dispensaries, UFCW Local 655 also represents cannabis workers at the Shangri-La and High Profile cannabis dispensaries, both of which are located in Columbia, Mo.

Workers at the Terrasana medical cannabis dispensary in Columbus, Ohio, recently joined UFCW Local 1059. The 32 workers are employed as dispensary agents who assist customers and patients in procuring the right product and dosage for their needs.

These workers joined our union family because they were concerned about security and safety at the dispensary and wanted a voice in the workplace. The campaign to organize the workers included regular in-person meetings and the use of reflective engagement techniques to build solidarity.

“As the front lines of an emerging and ever-changing industry, we wanted our voices to be heard,” said the workers at the Terrasana dispensary in a joint statement. “More often than not, companies reduce the people who make them what they are to nothing but numbers or pawns for their overall gain. By unionizing, we are ensuring that our voices are heard and we make it known we are more than numbers. We are people, human beings. As humans, we deserve to work in a place where we feel respected, listened to, and paid properly for our labor. By unionizing, not only do we change things for the better for us, but for those who come after us and, hopefully, for the industry as a whole.”

In addition to the workers at the Terrasana dispensary, UFCW Local 1059 also represents workers at the Herbology dispensary in Newark, who became the first cannabis workers in the state of Ohio to unionize, and the Harvest of Athens dispensary in Athens.