A medical cannabis dispensary unionized in Washington DC, an industry first in the nation’s capital, as the marijuana labor movement maintains momentum.
DC Holistic Wellness signed a five-year contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), the leader in organizing the marijuana industry.
“This is a win-win for everybody,” said Norbert Pickett, owner of DC Holistic Wellness, in a news release. “It’s a win-win for the business, it’s a win-win for the workers and it’s a win-win for patients, because they’re going to get better care and more stable attention.
“We’re an emerging market, so it’s important we have a highly trained workforce that’s very knowledgeable.”
Recruiting and retaining well-trained workers often are cited as major benefits to unionizing, while drawbacks might include increased costs and decreased flexibility.
The contract covers 13 employees and includes the following provisions:
- Guaranteed pay increases every six months, in addition to an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
- Paid time off that includes personal days, bereavement leave and time off to vote.
- A grievance procedure to resolve disputes with management as well as protection from unjust discipline or firing.
- Health-care benefits through the UFCW.
- Accredited training program.
- Retirement benefits.
