Workers at Green Thumb Industries/RISE Dispensaries formed a union last month, becoming the second group of medical cannabis workers in Minnesota to join Local 1189 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).
The union became official March 30, when a majority of employees signed cards authorizing Local 1189 as their representative in a so-called “card-check election.”
“The overwhelming majority of medical cannabis workers in Minnesota are now unionized at both existing medical cannabis companies,” Local 1189 said in a press release.
“This will lead to higher standards for all cannabis workers in Minnesota, and UFCW 1189 remains committed to fighting for good jobs in the cannabis industry, access to quality products for patients and an end to cannabis prohibition in Minnesota.”
The new bargaining unit includes dispensary, harvest, production, pharmacy and laboratory workers at Green Thumb Industries (GTI), which operates RISE medical cannabis dispensaries in St. Paul, Eagan, St. Cloud, Willmar, Mankato, Hibbing and New Hope.
Local 1189 has represented workers at Vireo Health, which operates Green Goods dispensaries, since the company was founded in 2015.
Union Advocate 