Posts Categorized: Negotiations

On June 4, members of UFCW Local 400 who work at the Sweetspot cannabis dispensary in Olney, Md., ratified their first union contract. These workers joined UFCW Local 400 in September of last year around the same time another Sweetspot dispensary in Exeter, R.I., joined UFCW Local 328.

Key provisions of the three-year contract include:

•           $2.00/hour increase in starting pay

•           Guaranteed raises every six months

•           Time and a half on Sundays

•           Three extra holidays per year

•           Vision, dental, and health insurance

•           Guaranteed employee discounts

•           Seniority privileges

•           Just cause protection from unfair discipline

“We formed a union to make Sweetspot a better place to work and this contract does just that,” said Kai D., who has worked at Sweetspot in Olney for a year and a half. “We won a boost in pay, guaranteed raises every six months, extra holidays and so much more. We are proof positive that a union can make a big difference in our industry.”

About 40 members of UFCW Local 1991-P who work at the Lambro plant in La Prairie in Quebec, Canada, ratified their first contract on April 29. Lambro Inc. develops and manufactures high quality flexible ducts and plastic accessories for the HVAC residential, commercial and institutional buildings, and the workers in this unit hold positions such as operators, mechanics and lift truck operators.

This ratification concludes a negotiation process that started after their union certification on March 3, 2024. The agreement, ratified at 84 percent after a meeting held on April 29, 2025, marks a significant step forward for these workers.

Key provisions of the three-year contract include the introduction of the employer’s contribution to the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, which is a development capital fund; the addition of sick days bringing them to five; a productivity premium from $2 to $4 per hour depending on performance; and a seniority recognition with access to five weeks of vacation after 20 years of service. A signing bonus has also been obtained by the members with the contract coming into force.

“This first collective agreement constitutes an important milestone for our members from this production plant of ventilation products,” said UFCW Local 1991-P President Janick Vallières. “It demonstrates that, when we unite and speak in one voice, we can improve our working conditions and obtain long-lasting protection. I want to underline their engagement and their solidarity throughout this process.”