“I believe that this group of workers is inclined towards organization.”
By Christopher Shea of Rhode Island Current
Bruce Botelho, a patient care specialist at Warwick’s RISE Dispensary oversees the purchases of customers and recommends strains. He said that initially his job offered good benefits and was friendly.
He said, “It is a fun job and the people with whom I work are wonderful.”
He said that things quickly turned sour after Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries acquired the former Summit Medical Compassion Center, in 2021.
Botelho stated that there were initially few changes, but employee discounts were then reduced following the switch to recreational sales in this past year. After that, the hours of full-time and part-time employees were reduced without notice.
He said, “It can feel like we are actively punished for working here.”
Botelho’s decision to unionize in May was a result of the final decision made by Green Thumb, to reduce hours. In less than a month, RISE workers voted by 50-6 to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328.
Helen Saad, a RISE employee, said that it was rare to get everyone onboard so quickly. This also shows how poorly the company has been run, and how unhappy its staff are.
RISE isn’t the first cannabis company to be organized in Rhode Island. Ocean State Cultivation Center in Warwick partnered with UFCW 2020. Portsmouth’s Greenleaf Compassion Care Center ratified its first contract in 2017 and joined the UFCW 2021.
Santos stated that since unionization Greenleaf employees have “gained in terms of wages, benefits, and vacations.” The contract includes paid vacations, tips and Sunday protected time.
UFCW Field Organizer Mike Santos stated that other cannabis workers had reached out to the union about how they could organize their workplace. The number of unionized places of work is still small compared to the seven licensed compassionate centers and the 62 cultivators that are operating in Rhode Island.
The newly formed Cannabis Control Commission in Rhode Island can now grant up to 24 additional retail licenses under the 2022 Rhode Island Cannabis Act.
Why the push?
Michael Yelnosky is a professor of law at Roger Williams University. He said that the movement to unionize cannabis was not a shock.
He said: “I believe that this group of workers is inclined to organization in general.” “Especially when they see the energy that is being generated at all levels, including national, regional and local.”
Yelnosky stated that while cannabis is viewed as an industry with progressive work conditions, it’s not always the case.
When workers have to make a decision about their wages, conditions and working hours, they will often express some concerns and, if not satisfied, may look for other employment opportunities.
Saad says she felt this way long before RISE unionized.
She claimed that her hours were suddenly cut from 40 per week to just 33 in May, right after she paid a deposit of $2,600 on an apartment.
Saad: “It is not right or fair.” Would I need to find a new job? What was I to do? “I had to ensure I had enough cash to pay for electricity and rent.”
A Green Thumb spokesperson stated in an email sent on Tuesday that the company “respects our employees’ rights, including their fundamental right to freedom association.
We look forward to productive and good-faith negotiations toward a new agreement with the Green Thumb workers now represented by UFCW.
The statement denied these claims as well, saying that “we have not reduced the available hours for employees at our Warwick shop.” In terms of the loyalty program, no employee benefits have been eliminated. The policy is uniform across all our employees.
Labor Peace Agreements
Yelnosky stated that the “labor peace agreements” allowed UFCW to organize the cannabis industry quickly. These agreements require both parties to agree to refrain from opposing unionization, and to refrain from striking or stopping work. Santos points out that none of the cannabis businesses have used these agreements to unionize.
Rhode Island, California New York New Jersey, Connecticut and New Jersey have all passed laws that support unions within the cannabis industry. Massachusetts’ cannabis legislation from 2016 did not include any agreements.
Some agreements require that employers remain neutral with respect to union efforts and allow unions on their property.
Rhode Island law only requires the union to agree not engage in picketing or work-stoppages.
Greenleaf Compassionate Center filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month against the agreement in Rhode Island U.S. District Court. Greenelaf claims that labor peace agreements are in violation of the Supremacy Clause and the National Labor Relations Act.
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Yelnosky stated that the court usually sides with federal law in place and Greenleaf’s case is not strong.
He said, “I don’t think this is a very problematic requirement.” “Rhode Island did not go all out on this.”
Just because a state’s labor peace agreement is a law does not mean that workers must unionize.
Yelnosky explained that this is a requirement to ensure that certain weapons remain off the table until employees express their preferences. “And no one is forced to accept anything in a collective agreement if the workers choose to unionize.”
He said that successful contracts are the most important way for unions to grow in the cannabis sector.
Yelnosky explained that it is difficult for employers to resist the union once it becomes clear that the UFCW holds power, and employees will likely learn of the unionization campaign at another place.
This article was originally published by Rhode Island Current.
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The article Rhode Island Marijuana Workers Step up Push for Unionization first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
