Employees at a cannabis cultivation facility in Somerset are the latest group of workers in New Jersey’s legalized industry to unionize.
According to the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360, staffers at Fresh Cultivation recently voted to organize as members of the union, which represents cannabis industry workers in dispensaries, labs, manufacturing, processing, delivery and grow facilities across the U.S.
A few months after Fresh made its New Jersey debut last year in Elizabeth, workers at the dispensary voted in favor of unionization. Their counterparts in Eatontown joined the effort this past June.
Since New Jersey’s cannabis laws require employers to negotiate in good faith if workers seek union representation, employees at several companies have unionized over the past two-and-a-half years with groups such as UFCW Local 152, Teamsters Local 469 and UFCW Local 360.
In a statement, Fresh Cultivation employee John Edwards III shared, “Working with the union means security in my job and in my daily life. Having people who are on my side, to support my needs in the background, is reassuring. The relationship I have with UFCW Local 360 has been great so far, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”
Building ‘stable’ careers
Hugh Giordano, UFCW Local 360’s director of organizing, said, “Cultivation workers are the backbone of this industry. It’s their skill, care, and commitment that determine product quality, consistency and safety. By choosing to unionize with UFCW Local 360, these Fresh employees are reminding us that organizing is about partnership, about helping businesses succeed while ensuring that workers can build stable, family-sustaining careers.”
Giordano credited UFCW’s more than 10-year outreach effort as a factor in the continued organizing success.
“This vote is both a great sign for the movement and a clear demonstration of the success of our Cannabis Workers Rising campaign,” he stated.
The progress we’re seeing across New Jersey’s cannabis industry shows that workers know their value.
– Sam Ferraino Jr., UFCW Local 360 president
Union President Sam Ferraino Jr. agreed, saying, “The progress we’re seeing across New Jersey’s cannabis industry shows that workers know their value,” he said. “They’re rejecting anti-worker narratives and coming together to secure their futures. At every level of this industry, from seed to sale, UFCW Local 360 stands ready to help employers and employees work together to build long-term success, safe workplaces, and strong communities.”
Fresh did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding unionization efforts.
