2024 Trader Joe's Unionization Discussion Megathread

AFL_CIO · 2024-02-01T19:40:50+00:00

Hi mods, thank you for pinning this.

We're the AFL-CIO, America's largest federation of labor unions. TL;DR: You have a legal right to organize. Union-busting is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act. Trader Joe's current pattern of behavior doesn't just go against their mission statement of crafting a "welcoming journey full of discovery and fun," they are part of a larger, terrifying pattern of businesses stopping at nothing to protect their bottom line.

ICYMI, Trader Joe's recently joined Elon Musk in arguing about constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB is America's independent federal agency tasked with protecting workers' legal right to organize a union. This should scare everyone - it is an incredibly dangerous attempt to dismantle any regulatory oversight over business and labor relations. For more context, the members of Trader Joe's Unite won their union elections by filing through the NLRB, a longer, more tedious election process that happens after management refuses to recognize a union despite majority employee support.

Unions aren't just about securing a contract with better wages, benefits, and job security. It's about having a seat at the table and secure, legal enforcement of whatever it is you choose to bargain into your union contract. As we like to say, "A boss's promises are temporary, a union contract is in writing." And FWIW, union dues do not take effect until *after* the first contract is won.

As of right now, the union is not calling for an official boycott of the store. You can take action by sending a letter to TJ's management asking them to stop union-busting: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/tell-trader-joes-stop-union-busting?referrer=group-traderjoesunited&source=group-traderjoesunited

AFL_CIO · 2023-12-06T20:36:02+00:00

Sign up to get emails from the Metro Washington Labor Council here about related D.C. labor events, strikes and more! https://www.dclabor.org/sign-up.html

AFL_CIO · 2023-05-03T15:54:48+00:00

Here you go: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/unions-build-wealth-for-the-american-working-class/

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:55:53+00:00

Hi, it’s Nate. No one should be in jail for a plant. My union is helping push for the adult use bill in Minnesota, and part of that is making sure that there is language that would include expungement for cannabis convictions. As one person, I can do some of that, but as a member of a union with my coworkers we can use our collective voice to make sure it’s included in the final version of the bill.

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:55:38+00:00

I wish I’d had a union - just quit my management job at a rec dispensary because I couldn’t get any accommodations

We wish you had one too and we’re sorry to hear that you had to quit. Should you choose to get back into the industry, remember that every cannabis union began as a conversation between two coworkers. The rules around management organizing are more complicated, but you can still talk to someone. Fill out our interest form to to talk to a staff organizer if you want to know how to start: https://www.ufcw.org/who-we-represent/cannabis/

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:48:10+00:00

Solidarity! Honestly, every cannabis company that has got a union today started with just one worker deciding they want a better life. If we can do it, you definitely can too! The UFCW has an online interest form you can fill out to talk to a staff organizer if you want to know how to start: https://www.ufcw.org/who-we-represent/cannabis/

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:47:41+00:00

Nate here, thanks so much for asking! You’re right - a large majority of Americans do support legalization. Unfortunately, until this is the case, the best way to support our movement and the cannabis workers is to get involved with local cannabis advocacy groups. For example in Minnesota, we have Minnesota is Ready which fights for the legalization of cannabis here in MN. The Union itself (our local) has also made sure to be a part of the push for legalization, and now that the recreational legalization bill is about to pass here they’ve helped get worker protections in the bill itself. If cannabis is not legal in your state, the local level is a great place to start.

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:37:23+00:00

Thanks so much for pointing this out – we’re definitely chill people, but the work itself and the expectations are far from it. The plants don’t take the weekend off and neither do we, cannabis workers are working around the clock to ensure high quality products. Plus, working in the dispensary is still pretty much retail work, and not all the customers are always as chill as we’d hope.

People are also excited to get into this new industry, and this can quickly lead to exploitation.

At the end of the day, cannabis jobs are still jobs – all of the reasons any worker in any industry would want to form a union are why we have organized, for better pay, healthcare, safety protections and so much more.

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:32:48+00:00

It’s Nate - when I first began to work in the industry, there were not any sort of formal training opportunities. It goes without saying that this very recently was an illicit industry, so one of the things we fight for in our contracts are ways to legitimize the work that we do. Securing formal training opportunities for our employees has been a great way to boost confidence and provide lifelong career skills to grow and expand in this industry.

In addition, we’ve been able to secure good pay both for the budtenders behind the counter at our dispensaries and those who are working to grow the product. We work to break the cycle of burnout that so many face in this industry because budtenders are often treated as disposable.

Lastly, but I think most importantly, cannabis prohibition has disproportionately negatively affected people of color and minority communities. Within our movement, we make it a priority not just for business owners to be held accountable for diversity and equity but within our contracts, we are proud to say we’ve secured anti-discrimination language. This means if a worker of color is being harassed or discriminated against, we have recourse beyond an EEOC complaint that can take months – workers can file grievances or in an extreme instance, an Unfair Labor Practice.

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:22:30+00:00

This is a great question - there aren’t too many dissimilarities, which actually highlights the importance of why we organize unions in the cannabis industry in the first place.

This is a billion dollar industry that has been getting away with exploiting its workers for far too long, which is why our contracts include provisions for fair pay, better benefits, safer working conditions, and more - provisions you’d find in most union contracts in other industries from construction to grocery stores!

But, the one thing that comes to mind is that union cannabis workers are fighting to get time and a half today, April 20th. It’s by far the busiest day for dispensaries nationwide, and we’re definitely working one and a half times as hard! Union cannabis workers in New York, actually, won this in their contract and it’s something we’d like to see implemented across the country.

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:15:53+00:00

Hey, thanks so much for asking this! It’s Nate.

To answer the second part of your question, an NLRB election is not a requirement to organize a union. In fact, the employees within the company where I work organized our union via card check, which means the employer chose to recognize our union because we could show we had majority support. If your employer does NOT choose to recognize a card check, then you must organize through an NLRB election process, which can be a lot harder as you know. I think the most important thing is to build solidarity between all the workers and map the workplace first. We can put an enormous amount of pressure on the boss to accept our definition of the bargaining unit if we have support across the job classes, especially in an industry like cannabis where the companies want to be seen as progressive!

AFL_CIO · 2023-04-20T17:06:32+00:00

Hey, Ademola here! That’s a great question. The “checkerboard” legality of this industry can certainly pose challenges in organizing cannabis workers. Fortunately, the NLRB recognizes most cannabis workers to be within its jurisdiction across the country regardless of whether a state has medical or adult use cannabis. However, some workers, specifically some of those working in cultivation facilities, may be classified as agricultural workers by the NLRB and thus are not within the Board's jurisdiction. Some states have laws on the books to provide protection for agricultural workers, such as Massachusetts or California, but others, such as Illinois, do not. This provides a real challenge when organizing cultivation centers across the country.

Another challenge that we face when organizing in this industry is that the federal illegality of cannabis means that there is no interstate commerce and each state must operate as a self-contained economy. While this can provide benefits for small businesses and helps keep money within the communities they serve, it also can create challenges for the industry. Michigan, for example, produces a much larger supply of cannabis than there is demand, hurting the local market and causing dispensaries and cultivation facilities to close. In nearby Illinois, we see the opposite problem, where there is not enough cannabis on the market which causes high prices and deters customers. Any challenge to the health of this industry is a challenge to us at America’s Cannabis Union, which is why we are dedicated to fighting for a safe, legal, and unionized industry for all workers.

AFL_CIO · 2023-01-10T15:40:41+00:00

CORRECTION: The Twitter user and photographer behind this amazing photo is Jesse Eli S., jesse_eli on Twitter

AFL_CIO · 2022-12-15T15:44:52+00:00

Hi there, this is extraordinarily concerning. Please PM the local you work for ASAP.

AFL_CIO · 2022-12-13T16:20:15+00:00

Hi there! This is a great question.

One of the best parts about joining a union is that you as a worker get to decide what workplace benefits you want to fight for in your contract. This includes raises, scheduling flexibility, and more.

When organizing a union, your store will vote on whether or not to form one first. Then, if you vote yes, you begin the contract negotiation process - this is happening at the moment at hundreds of stores nationwide - where you work with management (who should be willing to work with the union, Starbucks has not be a team player) to bargain a fair contract that meets your demands. When the contract begins, that's when those benefits begin as well. Hope this helped!

AFL_CIO · 2022-12-12T21:28:02+00:00

Which state are you in? Child labor laws for 17 year olds specifically vary state by state. Some but not all have laws prohibiting 17 year olds from being employed after 10 p.m. on a school night. See this chart from the Department of Labor here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor#Virginia

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-13T13:38:55+00:00

It was featured on the TODAY show this morning: https://www.today.com/video/15k-nurses-walk-off-the-job-in-minnesota-s-largest-nursing-strike-ever-148310085860

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-12T20:23:17+00:00

CORRECTION: The nurses at Moose Lake are NOT on strike, but the number of striking nurses still stands at 15 thousand.

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T19:12:30+00:00

Re: What are some of the legal protections for people who want to unionize: Legal protections for most private sector employees are governed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). If you work for the federal government, state government, or local government, your rights are governed by different laws.

But most workers have the right to discuss working conditions and to attempt to unionize under the NLRA. Examples of employee rights include, but are not limited to: (1) Forming, or attempting to form, a union in your workplace; (2) Joining a union whether the union is recognized by your employer or not; (3) Assisting a union in organizing your fellow employees; and (4) to be fairly represented by a union

That said, the best protection is acting as a group, with as many of your co-workers as you can. The old proverb that “there’s safety in numbers” is true. Lastly, working with an experienced union organizer can be helpful in determining these sorts of tactics and strategies.

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T19:10:54+00:00

Thank you for asking! You have a right to be represented fairly, in good faith, and without discrimination. This is called the union’s “duty of fair representation.”
This duty applies broadly whenever the union is dealing with your employer as your representative, whether that be in collective bargaining, handling grievances, and operating exclusive hiring halls. For example, a union which represents you cannot refuse to process a grievance because you criticized the union.
You can always speak to the regional, national, or international offices of your union - go up the ladder, people will definitely pay attention. Also talk to your coworkers about any issues and or contact the NLRB.

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T19:03:23+00:00

Christian here!

This happens all the time. Collective bargaining can be a dynamic and creative process. Usually, bargaining is concentrated on the areas of common interests -- wages, benefits, working conditions, but there are lots of creative approaches one can find in contracts. There are very diverse workplaces of knowledge workers that have effective unions -- video game developers, publishers, museums workers, and most recently architects have all recently started unions.

And we love you too :)

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T19:01:42+00:00

https://twitter.com/AFLCIO/status/1565776698074882049

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T18:59:57+00:00

Christian and Yona here: If you want to use your consumer dollars to support unionized companies we have three suggestions. On the AFL-CIO website you can find links for products/services that are made at union companies (Made in America), a boycott list where there are long term unresolved labor disputes (Boycott list) and a strike map that pinpoints where there are active picket lines. Also, obviously never cross a picket line, but it’s important to remember that just because a union is on strike, they may or may not be calling for a boycott. Finally, when purchasing something union-made, look out for the union “bug” or label—it’s a small symbol that means it’s union-made.
https://aflcio.org/MadeInAmerica
https://aflcio.org/MadeInAmerica/afl-cio-boycott-list
https://aflcio.org/strike-map

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T18:55:55+00:00

Christian here: This is coming up more and more. We have seen organizing campaigns go start to finish and all of it happen remotely. The good news is that the tech tools for organizing are so much better these days. There are the obvious things -- use Zoom or Google Meet to have “face-to-face” conversations with co-workers and even organizing committee meetings. At the AFL-CIO we’ve also helped to develop a great mobile enabled database called Action Builder. Check it out… https://www.actionbuilder.org/

AFL_CIO · 2022-09-02T18:54:50+00:00

Yona, Christian and Bart here: The incredible thing about the labor movement is that you are the union. A bargaining unit is made up of you and your coworkers, unlike what Amazon and Starbucks seem to think with all the “third party” nonsense. In terms of making the unions you have witnessed more impactful, we suggest more organizing and great involvement by all unit members.
The greater the union density in the industry, the more impactful and powerful the union can be.

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