Posts Tagged: paid sick days

Workers at the Cannabis Club Collective, a medical marijuana dispensary in Tacoma, Wash., have approved the first-ever union contract for cannabis workers in Washington state and have joined UFCW Local 367. The vote to approve the contract was unanimous, and sets a new standard for cannabis workers in Washington.

“We’re going to set a high bar for our industry with a contract that’s fair to both workers and to owners,” said Tim Moisio, a four year employee and member of the bargaining committee. “Cannabis jobs should be good, family-supporting jobs and our contract ensures that.”

The three-year contract includes regular raises, affordable health insurance, paid vacations and sick leave, as well as seniority and grievance protections. It also will include a pension plan to guarantee secure retirements beginning in 2017.

“Workers have rights regardless of the industry they are in,” said UFCW Local 367’s President Denise Jagielo, “we look forward to working with the members at Triple C, and other dispensaries, to protect their wages and benefits, and to create a safe work environment.”

“The whole process has been outstanding,” said Moisio. “We’re looking forward to standing together in our union for years to come.”

Workers at Minnesota Medical Solutions, LLC, one of Minnesota’s two approved medical cannabis manufacturers, ratified their first union contract.

As Minnesota prepares for legal medical cannabis sales in the state to start on July 1^st, workers in the up-and-coming industry are already speaking out for a union voice. Last week, workers at Minnesota Medical Solutions, LLC, one of Minnesota’s two approved medical cannabis manufacturers, ratified their first union contract. The workers voted earlier this month to join UFCW Local 1189.

These new UFCW members are doing their part to shape Minnesota’s medical cannabis industry to support both working families and patient families. The contract guarantees family-supporting wages for all workers, from custodian to pharmacy technician.

The new contract will guarantee workers a wide range of benefits: employer paid family health insurance, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, paid vacations, holidays and sick time, contributions to their 401A/K accounts, along and guaranteed wage rates and progression increases.

Minnesota Medical Solutions has a production facility in Edina, Minn., and is expected to open four dispensaries this summer.

The UFCW represents thousands of medical cannabis workers in six states and the District of Columbia. UFCW members in the cannabis industry work predominantly in dispensaries, coffee shops, bakeries, patient identification centers, hydroponics stores, and growing and training facilities. Our union has been a key leader in coalitions and advocacy groups that work for real change at all levels of policy and has been instrumental in working to advocate for the good jobs provided by the medical cannabis industry.

For more information on organizing efforts in the medical cannabis information, please visit Cannabis Workers Rising.