On Friday, a peaceful rally organized by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 99, a private-sector union, advocated for the rights of the striking workers at Curaleaf Holdings, Inc.'s CURA CURLF cannabis dispensary in Midtown, Phoenix, Arizona, reported the Arizona Republic.
Why?
According to employees, Curaleaf terminated worker Christian Tallabas for his union activity and the dispensaries' unilateral policy changes were the catalysts behind the Unfair Labor Practice strike.
"It really grinds my gears how we have corporate from Curaleaf standing right behind this window," Tallabas told protestors who gathered to strike. "I personally think it is really disgusting and you should see the look on their faces."
UFCW and Curaleaf employees requested the store's management to reinstate Tallabas and begin negotiations for a union contract. More than a year has passed since workers decided to unionize.
Boris Jordan, executive chairman of the company's board, will give a keynote speech at the upcoming Benzinga cannabis event in Chicago. Cannabis unions will be just one of many hot topics at the two-day event this Sept. 27 and 28.
Teamsters' Recent Win
Meanwhile, the latest cannabis strike comes on the heels of another marijuana strike of workers at Green Thumb Industries Inc. GTII GTBIF's Rise dispensaries that got its closure.
The 13-day unfair labor practice strike led by a Teamsters branch in May at two Rise Cannabis dispensaries in Joliet and one in Niles, Illinois, which forced parent company Green Thumb to raise wages by 50%, resulted in ratification of the first collective bargaining agreements between Rise and members of Teamsters Local 777 at three dispensaries.
Jim Glimco, Local 777 president, called the move "a lesson to cannabis companies all across not just Illinois, but the entire country."
The Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, the place where deals get done, is returning to Chicago this Sept 27-28 for its 17th edition. Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.
Photo: Benzinga edit of images by Matthew Brodeur and Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
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