Strike at Cannabis Dispensary in Ohio!
Strike at Cannabis Dispensary in Ohio!
Card-carrying union members have officially started a strike against Vext Science DBA (doing business as) Herbal Wellness Center in Columbus, Ohio. The strike started on Friday, 9/26 and helped delay the opening of the store on both 9/26 and 9/27, according to many members of the strike and others outside of the building. The affected union workers are represented by Teamsters Local 413 and have been in negotiations for a union contract for the staff for almost a year.
The negotiation meetings have been sparse, and the union-backed employees have decided to strike to drive Vext Science back to the negotiation table, arguing for protections from unfair labor practices. “This is not an economic strike,” said one striker, indicating that negotiations are intended to create worker protections for staff members who have been operating the store daily.
Teamsters Union 413 became involved with representing workers last year, before the sale of the license for the store, formerly known as Strawberry Fields. Many of the currently striking workers were hired by Vext Science shortly after much of the previous staff (who had initiated conversations with the union) quit or were fired after the sale of the store.
Employees in the store state they have been informed to not answer questions about the situation, and suggest reaching out to corporate for comment. EbTHC has reached out to Vext Science for comment, and will update accordingly if they respond.
For more video and on-the-ground coverage, consider checking out Rodney Hash on instagram.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Ohio is an at-will work state; "at-will" employment means either party can terminate for any non-illegal reason, and the employee can leave at any time. However, thanks to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, if the employees have signed a union card, they are thus protected by federal law. If they lose their job due to their attempt to unionize, a complaint can be filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Follow the instagram page, and share the word about this strike.
Go attend the strike and provide donations to the striking workers.
Normalize conversations about union representation in all lines of work.
Do not cross the picket line, there are numerous ways to ensure you have access to safe cannabis, a small sale is not worth it.
HOW TO UNIONIZE
For other staff facing unfair labor practices in the cannabis industry, contact Teamsters Local 413. If you have signed the union card, you now have protections under federal law. The union can provide you with all necessary information at this point, and will mobilize to aid you if you move forward with them.
FINAL NOTE
This is an important time in Ohio’s cannabis industry. With multiple pieces of legislation moving through the capitol building, two of the longest strikes happening nationwide in this industry, and regulatory changes being discussed at the federal level. If you care about access to cannabis, do your part and get involved.
