Recent Union Wins at Rite Aid and in Local Cannabis Industry

There’s been some very recent wins by unions both within the giant Rite Aid and in the local cannabis industry.

First, and most significant, members of United Food and Commercial Workers voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Rite Aid. The agreement was reached after months of negotiations and active participation from thousands of pharmacists, pharmacy clerks, and technicians in Southern California. The contract provides the largest monetary increases ever for over 3,500 workers at Rite Aid, and includes UFCW Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442.

Key provisions of the agreement include:

• Significant wage increases each year of the contract for all workers. Initial increases will be retroactive to July 21, 2024.
• New longevity rates at 10 and 15 years.
• Protection of health care and pension benefits. Rite Aid has agreed to fully fund all health care and pension benefits with no changes for the duration of the contract.
• Protections to full-time and part-time guaranteed hours that the company tried to reduce.
• Elimination of lunch waiver practice.
• This contract will go into effect immediately for over 3,500 essential pharmacy workers in Rite Aid locations across Southern California.

Plus, UFCW Local 135 scored a win with workers at Mission Valley Cannabis 21+ who voted to join the local. The Union now represents 400 cannabis workers at six companies in San Diego and Imperial Valley.

This vote marked a significant step in helping them secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The vote, conducted by representatives of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), took place last week and resulted in a win for union representation for the more than twenty dedicated employees at Cannabis 21+.

UFCW Local 135, which represents 400 workers in San Diego and Imperial Valley’s cannabis industry, is committed to expanding union representation in the cannabis space. With two Cannabis 21+ dispensaries in San Diego County, and seven locations across California, the union is eager to assist workers at the company’s second area dispensary in Sorrento Valley.

Maribel Mckinze, UFCW Local 135’s Organizing Director, commended the Mission Valley workers for their determination and solidarity:

“The workers at Cannabis 21+ in Mission Valley have demonstrated incredible courage and solidarity in their decision to unionize. This is an important victory not only for them but also for the growing movement to ensure that cannabis workers across California have a voice at work and access to better wages, benefits, and working conditions. We look forward to supporting their journey to a strong contract and standing with their colleagues in Sorrento Valley as they organize next.”

This latest win, on the heels of recently organizing longtime San Diego cannabis operator Torrey Holistics, reflects the union’s ongoing commitment to advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers in the cannabis industry. UFCW Local 135 represents cannabis workers at March and Ash (nine locations), Stiiizy (two), Eaze, Harbor Collective, Torrey Holistics, and now at Cannabis 21+.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 135 represents over 12,000 members in San Diego and Imperial Counties across industries including grocery & retail, pharmacy, healthcare, food processing, cannabis, and more. UFCW Local 135 is part of the 1.3 million-member strong UFCW International Union.