Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center workers in Portsmouth unanimously ratify first contract
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 328, the union for 11,000 Rhode Island and Massachusetts workers, announced that the budtenders, keyholders, online orderers and delivery drivers employed at Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, voted unanimously to approve a first contract. The two-year agreement includes:
- Immediate wage increases for all employees, including up to 22% for employees with 1 year or more of service
- Additional wage increases in the second year
- Immediate improvement in starting rates for all classifications by over $2.00 an hour with an additional increase in the second year
- Paid vacations and improved paid sick time
- Protection of bargaining unit work
- Clothing allowance
- Additional paid holidays
- Protected time and a half on Sunday
- Robust grievance procedure and workplace protections
- Newly secured opportunity to earn tips
- Ratification bonus of $1,000
Nicholas Ventetuolo, a delivery driver at Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center and a member of the negotiating committee, stated after the vote, “This contract sets a tremendous precedent for cannabis workers in Rhode Island, at a time where the industry is undergoing massive changes in preparation for the introduction of recreational sales. Our contract is a powerful statement on the collective power of a united workforce. The workers at Greenleaf would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to UFCW Local 328 for their unwavering support throughout this entire process.”
Nicholas added, “It is our hope that the other compassion centers in our state will take notice of our victory and use it as a motivating factor to begin their own fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. We will be ready to stand with them.”
Sam
Marvin, Director of Organizing at UFCW Local 328, stated, “This was a hard
fought victory for Greenleaf workers. Together, they prevailed both at the
labor board and at the bargaining table. By speaking up and standing together,
they have raised the standards here in Rhode Island for cannabis workers. We
applaud the workers at Greenleaf for their dedication and commitment to securing
this historic victory.”
Greenleaf
Compassionate Care Center becomes the first compassionate care center in Rhode
Island to secure a labor peace agreement ahead of recreational sales beginning
in December.
BACKGROUND:
Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center employees voted 21 to 1
to join UFCW Local 328 in April 2021. In the following months, UFCW Local 328
filed a multitude of unfair labor practices (ULP) charges with the National
Labor Relations Board in response to illegal
actions taken by the employer. Additionally, Greenleaf workers went on a
one (1) day strike in June 2021 to protest the unjust termination of a
co-worker.
After
investigations, the NLRB determined that Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center
violated workers’ rights and issued consolidated complaints against the company
detailing numerous violations. Remedies by the NLRB have included back-pay
totaling thousands of dollars for employees and the offer of reinstatement for
the fired worker. Additional charges remain pending with further remedies
expected.
UFCW Local 328 represents 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.
Locally, UFCW Local 328 currently represents employees at Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth, RI, dispensary workers at Curaleaf in Hanover, MA, cultivation and dispensary workers at Cresco Labs/Sunnyside in Fall River, MA, and budtenders at Solar Therapeutics in Somerset, MA.