Columbia Care’s Cannabist Retail Location in NJ Ratifies First Labor Contract

LOS ANGELES– The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, Local 360, recently announced that the Cannabist retail location in Deptford, NJ, operated by Columbia Care, Inc., has successfully ratified its first labor contract. The contract covers dispensary associates and senior dispensary associates, and its noteworthy feature is the unanimous vote in favor of the agreement. Additionally, the contract guarantees retroactive wage increases dating back to March, marking a significant milestone for employees who sought to unionize with UFCW over a year ago.

UFCW Local 360 President, Sam Ferraino, Jr., expressed admiration for the determination and commitment demonstrated by the Cannabist workers, emphasizing that the contract vote represents a step toward a brighter future for both the employees and their families. The accomplishment holds particular significance as Columbia Care’s Cannabist dispensary in Deptford becomes the company’s first U.S. location to unionize.

According to Tom Donoghue, director of cannabis at UFCW Local 360, this labor contract’s successful ratification reflects a growing recognition among workers in the cannabis industry of their importance and their willingness to assert their rights. Businesses that listen to their employees and address their needs and concerns are more likely to flourish in the long term.

The UFCW’s recent involvement in the cannabis industry includes several notable instances of labor organization:

• UFCW Local 152 members at Acreage Holdings’ The Botanist dispensaries in Egg Harbor and Atlantic City, N.J., ratified a bargaining agreement in June.
• Workers at Valley Wellness in Raritan, NJ, voted to unionize as members of UFCW in March.
• Employees at Curaleaf’s Edgewater, NJ, dispensary voted to organize as members of United Food and Commercial Workers in October.
• Workers at Trulieve’s North Shore medical cannabis dispensary voted to join Local 1776 in September.

Signing a labor contract holds significant implications for both employers and employees in the cannabis industry. These legally binding agreements establish clear terms and conditions of the employment relationship, providing stability and certainty for all parties involved. The recent successes in securing labor contracts could signal a growing trend of labor organization within the state’s cannabis sector moving forward.