On January 25, workers at the central Phoenix Trulieve Cannabis Corp production facility voted to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 99.
This marks the first successful union election by agricultural workers in Arizona’s cannabis industry. Business owners must take care to properly address potential union organizing, and, unionization. Unionization has many effects on a business and legal ramifications should be considered.
If you have any questions about how the unionizing of cannabis industry workers or other issues may affect you or your cannabis business, please reach out to Don Johnsen and Kortney Otten.
about the authors
Don Johnsen represents employers in matters involving employment discrimination and sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, wage and hour disputes, arbitrations, and labor practice charges. Practicing employment and labor law exclusively, he advises on employee hiring, discipline and discharge procedures, drug and alcohol testing, non-competition matters, labor relations issues, and other employment-related policies and procedures.
Kortney Otten leads the firm’s cannabis and hemp practice, advising plant-touching and ancillary cannabusiness owners/operators, start-ups, and those expanding to this market through the myriad of state and federal regulations particular to the industry. A long-time entrepreneur, Kortney has 20+ years of hands-on experience as an owner/operator of franchised restaurants, companies involved in manufacturing nutraceuticals, and real estate and investment interests.