Sixteen wellness advisers at Sunnyside Dispensary in Chillicothe, Ohio, joined UFCW Local 1059 earlier this month.
The cannabis workers sought union representation over serious concerns about safety, along with a desire for fair sick-leave policies, expanded healthcare benefits, greater transparency around career mobility, and more input into day-to-day operations.
“I want to be part of a cannabis union because I believe the people who work in this industry deserve a strong voice, fair treatment, job security, and opportunities to grow,” said Ebony Gatrell, a Sunnyside Dispensary wellness adviser.
Wellness advisers, sometimes called budtenders, serve as product experts, educators, and compliance managers in addition to their customer service roles. Because the job puts them in constant contact with the public, workers need assurance that physical safety protocols are established and enforced. At this location, one key issue for contract negotiations is a policy that allows previously banned customers to keep shopping at the store. The store has no security staff, so workers are left in a vulnerable position if they have to serve difficult or threatening customers.
“We are excited to get to the bargaining table and negotiate a first contract that empowers us and reflects the value that we bring every day,” said Stacie Hupp, a wellness adviser at Sunnyside Dispensary. “We started this movement by simply talking to each other about how to make our jobs better, and now we have an opportunity to make that vision a reality.”
Organizer Ev Lindrose said her success came from building a genuine connection with each worker and making sure they felt supported throughout the process.
“As the organizer, I acted as a confidant, sometimes therapist, a fellow cannabis advocate, nerd and comrade. We started slowly and built the union from the ground up, demonstrating the union difference through actions and not just words or promises of better,” she said. “Simple acts of kindness laid a strong foundation of solidarity with these workers while also teaching them how to support each other autonomously, which will serve them well once they have their contract.”
Contract negotiations are expected to begin in the coming months.
This is the second Sunnyside Dispensary location in Ohio to join the UFCW as part of the Cannabis Workers Rising campaign. Workers in Cincinnati are represented by UFCW Local 75.