UFCW 655 launches massive cannabis organizing campaign in Eastern Missouri

Wins unanimous union vote at High Profile dispensary

By ED FINKELSTEIN
Publisher Emeritus

Columbia, MO – With a 25-to-0 vote to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 by employees at the High Profile cannabis dispensary here, the campaign by Local 655 to bring union wages and benefits to cannabis workers throughout the eastern half of Missouri is well on its way, says Local 655 President David Cook.

Launched just four weeks ago, Local 655’s energetic campaign has already organized four stores with negotiations underway at their first win, Columbia’s Shangri-La dispensary, where the union won more than $145,000 back pay and jobs back for 10 workers who were fired for joining the union. (“UFCW 655 wins historic NLRB fight in cannabis organizing drive” – Labor Tribune Nov. 16, 2023).

“In all my years with the local, I’ve never seen so many workers willing to stand up for their rights in the workplace,” Cook said.

“We look forward to what workers in this industry can accomplish when they stand together in our union for their rights.”

The excitement was evident in the unanimous Dec. 16 vote at High Profile dispensary, “the first time in my career that we’ve won a unanimous vote for union representation,” Cook said.

BETTER PAY AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Local 655’s four-man organizing team, initially augmented by several UFCW International organizers, has already made over 160 initial visits to more than 100 dispensaries and processors, said lead organizer Sean Shannon. Their “Union for Cannabis Workers” shirts make them immediately visible to employees when they walk into the locations.

“Workers are really excited about the chance to earn better pay and have some decent working conditions,” Shannon said, “But as the campaign grows, companies are taking a very aggressive anti-union stance and threatening workers.”

Despite this growing resistance, “As word spreads about our efforts, we’re getting calls from all over the state from workers wanting to help us organize their stories.”

Two more elections – at Hi Pointe dispensary and Beleaf Medical processor in St. Louis – are awaiting election dates in the next few weeks.

EMPLOYER RESISTANCE
As expected, companies are resisting.

One store not only banned union organizers, but also customers who show support for the employees unionizing, Shannon said. He said five state operators from all over Missouri have been particularly aggressive in their anti-union efforts: Good Day Farms, CODES, Green Light Dispensary, Kind Goods Dispensary and Green ReLeaf Dispensary.

“But workers are determined… and we’ll continue to let them know that our union is there to help them and fight for their rights, decent pay and working conditions,” Shannon stressed.