Smithville Cannabis Employees Seek to Unionize, Break Ground
In an unprecedented move, employees of a Smithville cannabis manufacturing facility have declared their intention to create a union; a path that no other group in this burgeoning industry has ever embarked on. If successful, their quest could set a valuable precedent in the cannabis industry that rakes in about $1.3 billion.
The Road to Unionization
The contingent of approximately 60 employees contacted Teamsters Local 41 for support and facilitation and are in the preparatory stages before casting their votes to unionize. However, their unionization journey hinges crucially on a yet-to-be-made decision about who is legally permitted to join a union.
The Federal Labor Law places a ban on unionization among agricultural workers, a category that the company argues that its workers fall under since they are involved in cannabis growth. On the other hand, the protesting employees posit that their duties aren’t limited to just the cultivation of cannabis.
“The claim that we are all merely agricultural workers because our tasks involve cannabis growth is a misrepresentation,” retorts a representative from Teamsters Local 41. He further explains that the workers’ job scopes are diversified across the facility, hinting that their roles are not purely of an agricultural nature.
Towards a Brighter Future
For many of the employees, unionizing equates to improved prospects for their families. Hannah Frazier, an employee with the company, is hopeful about the benefits of unionization she has seen in her own family, with her father having been a union member for about 39 years. “This could be a game-changer for not just individual workers but their families as well,” she added.
Notably, older employees like Jeff Knotts see this move as an investment in the younger workforce’s future. He mentions, “There’s a significant number of young people who are eager to build a career here. Unionizing secures that chance for them with the company and in this industry.”
A Historic Decision
A verdict allowing their unionization would undoubtedly have far-reaching impacts that surpass the Smithville community and, potentially, influence the cannabis industry nationwide. No group has ever spearheaded such an initiative in this relatively new industry.
The impact of this decision cannot be undermined; it has the potential to reshape the cannabis industry across the state and the country. “The breadth of the impact that this movement could bring about in the entire state and potentially the nation might not be clearly apparent to them,” commented a Teamsters Local 41 representative.
The group of workers currently remains in anticipation of this decision which will ultimately determine their ability to become a union and gain recognition within their industry. Their quest serves as a testament to their collective strive for better working conditions, representing their industry’s collective strength that accounts for roughly $1.3 billion.
The Local Cannabis Company has not yet provided a comment in relation to this groundbreaking initiative. This story will continue to evolve, and developments will be reported as and when they occur.
