Brooklyn, NY – Workers employed at the Gotham Dispensary in Brooklyn have voted overwhelmingly – 18-to-3, to join Local 338 Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)/United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 338, marking another milestone in the fight for dignity and fairness in the Cannabis Industry.
“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.”
The election, supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), brings Union representation to 25 Workers at the popular Brooklyn location.
“We need an advocate in the workplace,” added Malik Bowens, a Delivery Driver. “A Union gives us a voice in how we’re treated and how the store runs. We want clear communication, fair scheduling and respect. Winning this election means we’re one step closer to that.”
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.
And despite management’s use of Union-Busting tactics, including hiring an Anti-Union consultant, Workers remained united and undeterred.
With this victory, Gotham Workers join a growing movement of Cannabis Workers across New York building power in their workplaces.
Local 338 now represents 600 Cannabis Workers Statewide, from cultivation and processing to dispensaries and delivery services.
To Read This Organizing Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: — Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
