UFCW Action Wins Landmark Settlement for Missouri Cannabis Workers

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 655 announced an unprecedented settlement of Unfair Labor Practice charges against Shangri-La cannabis dispensary in Columbia, Missouri. The settlement offers 10 fired employees their jobs back with back pay and interest, pays five workers who did not want to return their back pay with interest plus an additional $5,000 each, pays damages to a terminated employee for the interest on a high-interest loan he was forced to take out because of his termination, immediately recognizes UFCW Local 655, allows workers to discuss union organizing on company property, prohibits the company from removing union organizers from their facilities and includes other stipulations.

“This settlement—with its more than $145,000 award to wronged employees—is the most sweeping and comprehensive win I’ve seen in my 37 years in the labor movement,” said UFCW Local 655 President David Cook. “These workers, not even union members yet, have now experienced the real value of union membership: having a strong organization to stand behind them and fight for their rights.”