Workers at a midtown marijuana dispensary say they’ve ratified a union contract with the company Curaleaf, which is publicly traded in Canada.
Curaleaf has 16 stores in Arizona. Employees at its midtown Phoenix location voted to unionize about four years ago, which was around when Brandon Richardson became a budtender there.
“Just keeping employees engaged. It’s tough because it's like a revolving door working there. There is so many people that come in and out of there,” he said.
Richardson is also the union steward for UFCW Local 99. He thinks the three-year contract with Curaleaf will reduce attrition.
“It was definitely worth the fight. Through the contract we got some guaranteed wage raises. We have stronger protections. As you know, we’re an at-will state,” Richardson said.
Curaleaf declined to comment.
“Other dispensaries or other Curaleafs, whoever, they’re going to look in and they’re going to see how we’re resetting that bar. And if they feel they need those guarantees, they can go for it themselves. We’re gonna be an example in the industry,” Richardson said.
Workers at another Curaleaf in metro Phoenix recently voted to decertify their union.
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