Workers at the Herbs Depot in San Jose voted for union representation last month bringing the total number of Local 5-represented cannabis delivery workers at Eaze company facilities to nearly 400.

The new members join with their colleagues at Eaze depots in South San Francisco, Cotati, Oakland, and San Francisco who are currently covered by a Local 5 contract, creating the largest bargaining unit of cannabis delivery and depot staff in the United States. Herbs workers look forward reaping the benefits of what is developing as a Northern California master contract.

Karen Osman is a driver at the San Jose depot and after three years on the job without a raise was eager to actively campaign for the union.

“I talked to a lot of coworkers during the campaign, and I was willing to put myself out there because we clearly need a union contract. We have long believed that our wages are not commensurate with the front-line work that we do,” says Karen. “Despite some union-busting efforts by the company we stuck together and we are now motivated to not only improve our wages but to make progress on scheduling, mileage reimbursement and other issues as we go to the bargaining table.”

Earlier this month, members at Fume in Cotati and Element 7 in South San Francisco ratified new agreements that included wage increases, signing bonuses and vacation and other benefit improvements along with important contract language covering rights on the job.

Eaze workers have also organized in Southern California and Local 5 is coordinating with Locals 324, 770 and 135 with the goal of a state-wide contract covering more than 1000 of the company’s employees.