Employees at the Zen Leaf dispensary in Buchanan voted on March 1 to join the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 951, marking a significant step in labor organization within the Michigan cannabis industry.
UFCW 951 President John Cakmakci expressed enthusiasm over the workers’ decision, emphasizing the union’s commitment to securing a contract that ensures competitive wages, quality healthcare, and workplace guarantees and protections for the employees.
Eighty-five percent voted for the union. Contract negotiations are expected to begin soon. Justin McMeans, a staff member at Zen Leaf Buchanan, complained about what he called exploitative work conditions.
Zen Leaf, with dispensaries across 12 states, but only one in Michigan, opened the Buchanan dispo in 2019, becoming both the city’s inaugural dispensary and the first to unionize.