All Curaleaf Cannabis Dispensaries In New Jersey Unionized As Members Of UFCW

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360 announced that, as it ramps up efforts to unionize New Jersey’s cannabis industry workers, all of Curaleaf’s CURLF New Jersey retail locations have been duly organized as members of UFCW. Curaleaf’s Bordentown, NJ dispensary was the last to vote for unionizing. The company’s retail locations, in Edgewater, Bellmawr and Bordentown, serve Medical and Adult-Use clients.

“This type of direct organizing will keep New Jersey’s cannabis economy thriving for years to come. From small micro-license holders to large multi-state operators, there’s growing recognition that unions create a better balance between the needs of employees, communities, and employers – and people want in,” stated Hugh Giordano, UFCW Local 360 director of organizing. “The best employers also understand that a collaborative relationship with labor unions strengthens their business and boosts opportunities for sustainable success.”

Sam Ferraino, Jr., UFCW Local 360’s president, stated: “Every Curaleaf employee in the state is joining the UFCW. It’s exciting, but our work is far from done. We’ll continue to crisscross the state, visiting every location of every company to help employees exercise their rights, and to highlight the growing danger of fake company unions. A vote to unionize is a vote to be part of something special, for the long-haul. These illegitimate unions corrupt that desire and weaken worker protections.”

UFCW’s recent activity in the cannabis industry includes:

• UFCW Local 152 members at Acreage Holdings’ The Botanist ACRDF ACRHF dispensaries in Egg Harbor and Atlantic City, N.J. voted on June 21 to ratify a bargaining agreement with their employer.

• Workers at Valley Wellness in Raritan, NJ., voted in March to unionize as members of UFCW.

• Employees at Curaleaf’s CURLF Edgewater, NJ., dispensary voted to organize as members of United Food and Commercial Workers, in October.

• Workers at the Trulieve TCNNF North Shore medical cannabis dispensary voted to join Local 1776 in September.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by Bits And Splits and Oleksandrum on Shutterstock