Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at the Design 710 cannabis dispensary in Atlantic City, New Jersey, joined United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 152. The five workers, who are employed as budtenders, formed a union by majority card-check. Local 152 plans to meet with these workers to begin the process of obtaining a first union contract. Over the past year, cannabis workers in New Jersey have been joining Local 152 across the state, including workers at The Botanist in Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic City, MPX/iAnthus grow facility in Pleasantville, MPX/iAnthus dispensary in Atlantic City, and Columbia Care Cannabist facility in Vineland.
“We are excited about representing workers from this growing industry for the purpose of collective bargaining,” said UFCW Local 152 President Brian String. “Together, we can make jobs in the cannabis industry a career choice for many individuals. We will strive to give our newest members the best representation in the entire labor movement.”