Greenleaf Workers Vote to Unionize in Historic Election Victory
The newly
organized team at Greenleaf includes budtenders, keyholders, online team
members and delivery associates. Each day, these workers strive to serve the
needs of their patients by providing medicine and guidance through the state’s
legal medical marijuana program.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Greenleaf management hired out of state anti-union consultants who held mandatory meetings and distributed flyers to employees in the dispensary.
Despite their
attempts, the workers at Greenleaf remained united and displayed incredible
support and solidarity. The tactics by the company only reaffirmed the workers’
strong commitment for forming their union and securing a better and brighter
future for all at Greenleaf.
The staff at Greenleaf also came together in hopes of securing an
equitable future in an industry that is seeing rapid changes and growth.
The
workers released a joint statement after the victory stating, “We hope that
through demonstrating our continued commitment to one another in organizing as
workers that we can create some form of lasting change within Greenleaf that
allows for better job security and more space for us to actually be heard. We
are proud to become a part of the larger momentum being seen by workers to
unionize that is taking place within the cannabis industry.”
After filing for their election in February, Greenleaf workers have received strong support from their patients at the dispensary. They also received support from Reclaim RI, an organization in Rhode Island dedicated to ensuring that the expansion of legalized cannabis includes racial, social and economic justice for workers and our communities.
The statement from Reclaim RI read, “Reclaim
RI believes that worker justice should be at the center of the legalization
process. Workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively are key elements
of that vision. We support the Greenleaf workers in their organizing efforts
and urge them to vote yes for union representation and a voice at work!”
With this
victory, the workers at Greenleaf will now have a collective seat at the table
as they negotiate their first agreement. By continuing to build a coalition of
support, they will have a strong foundation among patients, community groups
and labor allies.
Sam
Marvin, Director of Organizing at UFCW Local 328 said after the results, “We
are so proud of the incredible team at Greenleaf for sticking together. Each
day, they provide value to their patients and our communities. We look forward
to partnering with them towards building the better future they all have earned.”
Greenleaf has now become the second unionized cannabis business in the state of Rhode Island, and the first compassion center. UFCW Local 328 currently represents cultivation workers at Ocean State Cultivation Center in Warwick, Rhode Island, who unanimously ratified their first union contract in October 2020.
As Rhode Island is set to move forward with expanding the medical marijuana program with 6 new compassion centers and looks further at legalizing adult recreational use, the efforts of Greenleaf workers and Local 328 should serve as an example for how to guarantee equity and opportunity for workers in this field.
UFCW
Local 328 represents over 11,000 workers in a range of industries across Rhode
Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. As the recreational and medical cannabis
industries have become mainstream across the United States, the UFCW has
represented workers in cultivation and retail operations nationwide and has
fought to ensure that working families have a seat at the table to secure important
workplace protections and share in the gains and success of the cannabis
industry. The UFCW currently is the largest representative of cannabis workers
with tens of thousands of members in the industry nationwide.