We’re thrilled to share that Clarity Cannabis will be reinstating pandemic pay for their employees. This announcement makes Clarity Cannabis the first retail outlet in BC to reinstate pandemic pay since the province ended its full lockdown back in May.
UFCW 1518 became the first union to unionize private cannabis dispensary workers in Canada last February, when Clarity Cannabis workers voted to join the union.
In March, while still waiting to begin negotiations for their first union contract, Clarity Cannabis workers mobilized and were able to reach an agreement for a COVID-19 temporary pay boost with the support of our union.
UFCW 1518 is currently at the bargaining table with Clarity Cannabis. When the employer brought forward this initiative, our union was quick to welcome the news and sign a memorandum of agreement to make the pay increase official. This development is a prime example of what we can achieve when we work together with employers to bring improvements to working people.
The temporary reinstatement of pandemic pay is effective immediately and will continue until January 1, 2021. It will be paid in the amount of $2 extra per hour of work for all bargaining unit members.
British Columbia is in the midst of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline workers, like the budtenders at Clarity Cannabis, continue to assume risks interacting with members of the public while they are at work. We welcome the leadership of Clarity Cannabis recognizing the important work of their employees and encourage other retailers in BC to follow suit. It’s time to reinstate pandemic pay in the province.
UFCW 1518 fights for fairness for over 24,000 union members across BC and the Yukon. Click here for information about joining a union, or you can connect with an organizer to learn more. If you are worker in the Cannabis industry please visit: ufcw1518.com/cannabis/
