Cannabis Workers at Nature’s Medicines in Wareham, MA Vote Union Yes, Join UFCW Local 328
Wareham, MA– Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Union 328, which represents 11,000 workers in a variety of industries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, announced that the hardworking team of PSP’s (Personal Service Provider) and Inventory Clerks employed at Nature’s Medicines in Wareham, Massachusetts, won their union election after voting 6 to 3 to join UFCW Local 328. The workers formed their union with a focus on gaining higher wages, improving benefits, and securing important workplace protections.
Thomas Hooper, a lead PSP at the Wareham location, stated after the win, “I reached out to help my coworkers because I was tired of Corporate treating us like we didn’t matter. This Union will not only help the current employees, but it will be here long after I’m gone.”
Adam Ellis, another PSP said “I am glad to be helping myself and other coworkers to make our job worth the work we put into it.”
Mike Santos, Organizer with UFCW Local 328, said, ”We are proud of the incredible team at Nature’s Medicines. They organized for a voice at work and achieved this victory by sticking together and voting union yes. We are excited to welcome them to our union family!”
The workers at Nature’s Medicines join a growing movement both locally and across the country of cannabis workers coming together to ensure that workers have a collective voice in this new industry.
BACKGROUND:
On Friday, October 21st, the hardworking PSP’s (Personal Service Provider) and Inventory Clerks employed at Nature’s Medicines in Wareham, Massachusetts, delivered a signed letter to the Regional Manager and the General Manager, requesting the company to respect their decision to form their union. After Nature’s Medicines declined to voluntarily recognize their union, the workers filed for their union election. The company proceeded to have mandatory meetings with workers where they tried to persuade workers not to unionize. However, the workers continued to stick together throughout the election process.
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