In a landmark move for the Arizona cannabis industry, workers at a Trulieve Cannabis Corp. cultivation center in Phoenix have cast their ballots to form a union. This event, as reported by ABC 15, marks the first successful unionization of cannabis agricultural workers in the state's history. The significant vote unfolded with an overwhelming majority of 37 to 4 in favor.
The election, as overseen by the Arizona Agricultural Employment Relations Board (AERB), could usher in a new era for workers at the Phoenix facility, located at 2512 E. Magnolia Street. Should the AERB approve the results, these workers are set to join the ranks of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 99. This union is slated to take the helm in contract negotiations on behalf of the Trulieve employees, aiming to secure more robust benefits and protections—a move they seem set to soon make good on.
Trulieve's response to the unionization efforts remains unvoiced, with the Florida-based company opting to not comment on questions from the Business Journal. Nevertheless, the call for unionization echoes loudly from the workers, who cite Trulieve's hefty $275 million revenue in the third quarter as a testament to the company's capacity to adequately compensate their labor. This financial argument comes despite a reported loss of $25 million in the same quarter, as well as a net loss of $493 million in the initial months of 2023.
Unionization at the Trulieve site does not encompass all the facility's employees. It is specific only to those identified as agricultural workers. The rarity of such movements in Arizona's agricultural sector is attributed to the transient nature of the work and the six-month employment requirement before initiating union efforts. However, Trulieve’s year-round indoor operation has seemingly provided the necessary stability for its workers to successfully rally together. Meanwhile, the company also faces external scrutiny with reports from neighboring businesses and city officials of the cultivation center's odor becoming an issue in the Phoenix area.
As the industry eyes the developments at Trulieve, with its workers now poised to join UFCW Local 99, the landscape of labor rights in the cannabis sector in Arizona seems to be shaping to reflect advancement and collective bargaining power. This comes at a time when Local 99 has aggressively targeted the cannabis workforce, securing union wins not just in Arizona but also in Utah.
