Workers at a Springfield marijuana dispensary are only the second in the state to ratify a union collective bargaining agreement.
Workers at Key Cannabis Dispensary, 751 S. Glenstone Ave., will soon see significant wage increases, bonuses and additional time off as their first union contract was ratified Thursday, July 30.
Key Cannabis workers voted to unionize three years ago and are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2. According to a UFCW news release, negotiations for the first contract have been ongoing since then, and Key Cannabis was bought by Elevate Cannabis two years ago.
The contract includes wage increases and bonuses, with an additional wage increase upon the first anniversary of the contract. In addition to
new bonus and incentive programs for workers, the contract also includes additional paid time off, sick time and paid bereavement leave.
“I’m so proud of our resilience, and I hope our win shows cannabis workers across Missouri that when we stand together, there’s nothing we can’t do," said Sally Powell, a retail associate at Key Cannabis, in the release. "With our union, we have the comfort and security of not being at-will employees, and with this contract, we’ve made our voices heard and negotiated the benefits we need to thrive on the job."
Through negotiations, the union said it was also able to ensure more stable scheduling, set clearer disciplinary guidelines, and secure stronger non-discrimination, anti-harassment and inclusion protections.
“We’ve been hearing from a lot of cannabis workers who love their jobs, but don’t love the lack of security, low wages, and weak benefits that are all-too-prevalent in this industry," said Megan Carvalho, UFCW’s National Cannabis Campaign Coordinator, in a statement to the News-Leader. "Cannabis workers are seeing how their counterparts at union shops are securing things like higher wages, bonuses, and additional time off, like the staff at Key Cannabis Dispensary in Springfield just won, and they’re feeling empowered to do the same."
Workers at the Springfield dispensary were only the second in the state to ratify a union contract, following closely behind those at a Columbia dispensary. According to reporting by the Missouri Independent, since Missouri legalized recreational marijuana in 2023, there has been a boom in cannabis jobs and with it, a push for unionization efforts in the sector. Key Cannabis appears to be the only unionized dispensary in Springfield.
Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield marijuana dispensary workers ratify union contract
