Posts Categorized: Member Resources

The UFCW is building a national Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), comprised of labor leaders and unionized employers, to oversee the curriculum for cannabis apprenticeship programs and raise standards as this fast-growing industry continues to evolve.  

The cannabis apprenticeship programs, from seed to sale, will train cannabis workers and set the standards nationally for the industry. These programs will also help to ensure that cannabis jobs mean living wage jobs, pathways to advancement, and equity, especially for marginalized communities. The UFCW’s JATC is developing a core curriculum that locals can use, add to, and change for their region. Along with the core curriculum, our union is also applying for accreditation so our apprentices can earn certificates and continuing education credits that can count toward college transfer credits. 

The UFCW’s JATC and other locals convened for a summit on April 22 to share information and discuss strategic goals around cannabis and apprenticeships. The summit highlighted the importance of thinking about cannabis apprenticeships in the broader political and legislative context, and how it can impact organizing, bargaining, and representing members, and help strengthen community alliances as we build equity and inclusion into our apprenticeship program from the beginning.  

“The first meeting of the JATC was informative and is the first step in this groundbreaking initiative to standardize workforce development and training in the cannabis space,” said RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 Political and Communications Director Nikki Kateman. “We’re looking forward to continuing to share information with our UFCW sisters and brothers from across the country so that we build a cannabis industry that works for workers.” 

The UFCW’s JATC will meet one time per month initially, either virtually or in person, to carry out its responsibilities. Members of the JATC include locals from every region that currently has cannabis workers unionized, and multi-state employers who have shown they are worker-friendly. The UFCW will convene another summit later in 2021 or early 2022 to continue sharing information and collaborating.  

“The cannabis industry is growing fast and we want to be sure those workers have the benefit of unionization with the UFCW, and that we are positioned as the union that creates the industry standards – for wages and benefits, job skills, and health and safety,” said Lynne Dodson, who is the workforce development and training coordinator for the International’s Organizing Department. “We are in the best position to ensure all workers in the industry, especially those who have been most impacted by the ‘war on drugs,’ have opportunities and a voice on the job. UFCW-led apprenticeships can build power for workers.”

The UFCW is launching a series of COVID-19 educational Q&A events to provide our members with an opportunity to have their questions about the COVID-19 disease and life-saving vaccines addressed by top doctors and public health specialists. The first two events in the series will be held on Thursday, May 6 at 6 p.m. ET and Monday, May 10 at 5 p.m. ET. The event on May 6 will be conducted entirely in Spanish. 

May 6 Event

The May 6 event will feature Dr. Jose Romero, MD, and Dr. Fabian Sandoval, MD. Dr. Romero is chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and also serves as secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health and a member of the Governor Asa Hutchinson’s cabinet. Dr. Sandoval is the chief executive officer and research director at the Emerson Clinical Research Institute and a member of the Leadership Council and Society for Clinical Research Sites. He is also the Emmy Award winning host of the weekly medical TV show “Tu Salud Tu Familia” and a medical contributor for Telemundo in Washington, D.C.  

This event will be moderated by UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas, who also serves as secretary-treasurer of United Latinos of the UFCW. This event will be conducted entirely in Spanish and broadcast live on UFCW’s Facebook page at 6 p.m. ET here.

May 10 Event

The May 10 event will feature Dr. Peter Marks, MD., PhD., Dr. José Montero, MD, MHCDS, and Dr. Robert Harrison, MD, MPH. Dr. Marks is the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration, which is the agency responsible for regulating and reviewing the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Dr. Montero is the director of the Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he oversees support to the U.S. health departments and those serving tribal nations and insular areas. Dr. Harrison is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and an occupational and environmental medicine specialist. He specializes in preventing coronavirus spread in the workplace environment. 

This event will be moderated by Executive Vice President and Director of National Bargaining Milton Jones and will be broadcast live on UFCW’s Facebook page at 5 p.m. ET here.

We are asking locals to encourage members to submit questions ahead of each event using the UFCW’s Soapboxx tool in English and Spanish and Phone2Action in English and Spanish. Members can also text “VaxFacts” to 83071 to RSVP and ask their questions today.  

Graphics and flyers to promote the events are available here.