Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Jersey Cannabis Workers Celebrate Union Election Victory Ahead of 4/20

Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Workers at cannabis products producer Sun Extractions have voted to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360, marking another win for the union’s ongoing campaign to ensure fair labor protections in the emergent industry.

Medical and recreational cannabis sales in the state are on track to exceed $2 billion, and the workers who make those profits possible are organizing to ensure that they can secure wages and benefits that reflect that success.

“New Jersey’s cannabis industry is stronger today, thanks to this vote by Sun Extractions workers,” said Hugh Giordano, director of organizing at UFCW Local 360. “Sustainable success for businesses, employees, and communities starts with fair treatment, strong standards and shared commitments. That’s how jobs in the cannabis industry become long-term careers, and it’s the future these employees are working towards.”

“We have more reasons than ever to celebrate 4/20 this year. We’re welcoming the workers of Sun Extractions into the Local 360 family, seeing the hard work of our members move an entire industry forward, and talking to other states as they look to New Jersey as a model of how to do it right,” UFCW Local 360 President Sam Ferraino Jr. said. “It’s another proof-point for what we always say: stronger unions mean stronger industries and stronger communities. And that’s worth celebrating.”