“Unionizing without fear of retaliation, or union-busting techniques, is one way cannabis workers can directly make their voices heard at work.”
Ademola Oyefeso United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
States across the nation are legalizing cannabis. Americans have the unique and amazing opportunity to shape a young industry.
I had the honor of testifying in front of the Senate a few weeks back to speak on behalf of the thousands of cannabis workers who are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. In my testimony, i outlined the financial instabilities and dangers that cannabis workers face across the nation. These are issues that our elected officials can and should address as we shape this new and emerging sector.
When the UFCW began to advocate for cannabis workers two decades ago, many people did not imagine that we would be able to testify about legal cannabis in front of the Senate. Years of hard work have brought us to this point.
The UFCW played a key role in the legalization movement in almost every state in the United States. They advocated for worker protections, and worked with employers and state legislators to build the relationships and building blocks needed for a successful industry. We first entered the cannabis organizing world in early 2010. After two decades of building the political and organization groundwork, this industry is now a powerhouse, with workers at its wheel.
Our union represents over ten thousand cannabis workers from Washington, D.C. to more than 22 other states, working in all aspects of the industry, starting with seed. Our commitment to creating an industry that offers equity, in the form safe, well-paid jobs that support families and empower all cannabis workers is at the heart of our cannabis efforts.
Unfortunately, because cannabis has not been federally legalized by the federal government, workers in this sector face a unique challenge due to a federal ban on legal banking.
The cannabis workers are affected by this in many ways. First, cannabis businesses must keep large sums of money on their premises. Cannabis workers are now a target, and they may be in danger.
Second, there is a lack of financial stability and security for many cannabis workers. Many cannabis workers do not have access to payroll or pay stubs, and they are unable show proof of employment to obtain apartment rentals or auto and home loans. Employees in legal industries should not be treated as criminals in the underground market.
Access to traditional banking means financial security, physical safety, peace of mind, and the ability plan and build a more fulfilling life. The UFCW is dedicated to advocating key cannabis legislation, such as the SAFE Banking Act. This would give cannabis workers and employers the ability to access legal banking services. We must urge our elected leaders, as states shape the cannabis industry to ensure that it is a safe, fair and consistent industry.
The UFCW has had a lot of success in working with employers, operators, and legislators. However, they refuse to stop. The only way cannabis workers can ensure that their voices are heard is to unionize without fear of retaliation.
Many cannabis growers are not able to unionize, as they could be classified by the National Labor Relations Board as agricultural workers. They would not be guaranteed the same rights to collective bargaining and unionization as other workers under the National Labor Relations Act.
To ensure that cannabis workers from seed to sale can unionize and negotiate for a better work life, it is important to pass additional protections at the state-level. This is a great opportunity to advocate for legislation to empower and protect workers. We also need to empower cannabis workers in their workplaces to unionize freely.
The UFCW ensures that workers are heard when businesses and laws fail to protect them. One of the best ways to empower cannabis workers is by creating a cannabis industry that values labor.
All Americans must urge their elected officials to pass legislation to support cannabis workers. As America’s Cannabis Union, the UFCW, will continue to fight, as it has for the past two decades, in order to organize, empower, and protect our nation’s cannabis workers.
Ademola Oyefeso, director of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Legislative and Political Action Department.
Elizabeth Warren Wants Marijuana laws That Block Amazon And Big Tobacco from Monopolizing the Legal Industry
The article Marijuana Moment first appeared on Marijuana Moment .
