Brooklyn, NY – Workers employed at the Gotham Dispensary in Brooklyn have voted to join RWDSU-UFCW Local 338.
The election, supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), brings Union Representation to 25 Workers at the popular Brooklyn location.
“I wanted to join (Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW) so that everyone at Gotham would have a collective voice,” said Cara Behar, a Budtender at Gotham. “Unions are the backbone of this country and their presence is more important now than ever. We’re demanding fair scheduling, equitable treatment of part- and full-time Workers and basic protections. Watching my Co-Workers be fired for organizing only strengthened our resolve.”
This win comes after months of organizing, during which Local 338 filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges against Gotham, alleging the company unlawfully terminated strong union supporters.
Despite management’s use of Union-Busting tactics, including hiring an Anti-Union consultant, the Gotham Workers remained united and undeterred.
With this victory, Gotham Workers join a growing movement of Cannabis Workers across New York State, building power in their workplaces. Local 338 now represents 600 Cannabis Workers statewide, from cultivation and processing to dispensaries and delivery services.
RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Fontano said: “The solidarity and strength the workers at Gotham displayed over the last six months of this Unionization Campaign has been nothing short of inspiring. They came together to advocate for each other, even in the face of Unfair Labor Practices. This win shows the power of organizing and the vision we had when we helped shape cannabis legalization in New York. We’re proud to welcome Gotham Workers into our Union Family and look forward to winning them a strong first contract.”
