UFCW 1518 is excited to welcome budtenders from the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club this spring. Workers at the historic medical cannabis dispensary have won job protections and paid staff meetings while they discuss a future contract with their employer. The budtenders, the employer, and the union provided input to create a unique temporary agreement while the dispensary seeks a medical cannabis licence. “We’re excited to advocate on behalf of the workers at VCBC and support their non-profit’s push to become a licensed medical cannabis distributor,” said UFCW 1518 President Kim Novak. The union and workers will begin negotiating workplace improvements with the employer over the next few months. Once a tentative collective agreement is in place, the workers will be able to vote over whether to accept the contract and retain their union representation. In the past, BC BUD members have bargained for and won increased wages, cannabis sommelier training, enhanced store security, and other major improvements to their contracts. Cannabis industry workers who are interested in joining a union and building more power at their workplace can learn more at ufcw1518.com/cannabis