Due to everything that has been occurring at our stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have also decided to unionize together with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW-Local 881). We submitted our petition for a union election to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Thursday, April 23rd. And already GTI is committing union busting activities. They are inflating our numbers to include 9 more employees this week and next. This will make it seem we do not have enough votes to win a union election by majority. Also, they are falsifying job descriptions to include Shift Supervisors as part of management, therein not allowing them to vote in the union election. Shift Supervisors have no hiring and firing or disciplinary abilities/duties, Shift Managers however do. GTI is now attempting to illegally undermine our efforts and rights to have a fair union election but this is a labor of love and we are moving forward with the power of love and truth.
Last night after significant pressure and organizing, including this petition, GTI corporate and management changed their mind and announced our store would remain curbside-only for the month of May. However this petition is not simply for the health and safety of the people who work and visit our facility. We are petitioning the state to make all dispensaries (medical and adult-use) curbside-only during this extremely dangerous pandemic. Please continue sharing as we want to continue to make it clear to the state and all cannabis companies such as GTI that we want them to do the right thing and make all dispensaries curbside-only. It would be incomplete if were only to do this for our clinic alone. Nothing for us, everything for everyone!!
GTI has truly shown what their priorities are and we cannot depend on them anymore to put our well-being and that of our patients/clients first. The company has been doing very well financially and there is no excuse not to make every available resource and effort to do right by its workers and patients/clients:
Companies in the cannabis industry can definitely do better in all areas:
- proper health and safety measures;
- transparency and effective communication;
- fairness and respect in all areas of work and processes; a more just and equal compensation for the physical/emotional/intellectual labor and time put in;
- benefits for all employees;
- an equal voice on the job especially for decisions that effect workers and patients/clients;
- staff development, support and promotions;
- fair and just hiring practices;
- conflict resolution processes;
- the fair and just distribution of profits already being made (without raising ANY prices for products and medicines);
- due processes in the workplace and mediation practices instead of being fired and harassed for things such as personal feelings and popularity;
- protections against sexual harassment, intimidation, racism, discrimination, and bullying;
- and all other areas and measures that equal to healthy, happy and secure workers who can live healthy, happy and secure lives and beautifully thrive instead of another industry that leaves so many living with the the realities and generational effects of physical and socioeconomic insecurities and just struggling to survive.
Workers are not disposable or easily replaceable. We are essential, we are the face and heart, the hands and feet of these companies. And we want to be respected and related with as such. We are human beings with dignity and worth. We don't have to lower our heads or cower to anyone or in the name of anything. This is about right relationships. This is about boundaries and self-love. This is about having an equal say in the agreements we make with the companies and with each other on how we want to be related with at our places of work. It is not enough to simply have "jobs", we want life-supporting, life-respecting jobs and careers! Let's do this!!
Lovingly,
3C Naperville Workers in Unity for Safety for All