United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99, a private-sector union representing retail workers across the southwest, held a peaceful rally Friday to support striking workers at Curaleaf’s Dispensary Midtown.
The day-long Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike was sparked by Curaleaf terminating its worker, Christian Tallabas, for his union activity and the dispensaries changing policies without coming to the bargaining table, said employees.
“It really grinds my gears how we have corporate from Curaleaf standing right behind this window,” said Tallabas to the employees who were on strike. “I personally think it is really disgusting and you should see the look on their faces.”
UFCW and Curaleaf employees are calling on the store to reinstate Tallabas and begin union contract negotiations. It has been over a year since workers voted to unionize, making an official union contract long overdue.