Detroit, MI – The cannabis industry in Michigan has been booming ever since the legalization of cannabis in the state. However, reports since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that some employees in the industry feel that they are being left behind. This issue has been brought to light by Stacey Watrobski, a cannabis industry worker and founder of The Official Cannabis Workers Resource, who recently spoke with Metro Times about her concerns.
Ms. Watrobski’s comments echo those of other workers who have expressed wide-sprawling dissatisfaction with their current job situations. She notes that many cannabis companies are not offering the kind of benefits and job security that employees in other industries enjoy. This is especially true for workers who are employed as temp or gig workers, who often have a higher overhead to do their jobs with frequent travel, or employees who work in high-risk manufacturing and laboratory areas, such as cultivation or processing.
One of the major issues facing workers in the Michigan cannabis industry is the lack of health, safety and training regulation. As the industry is relatively new, there are few rules in place to protect employees. This has led to a situation where some companies are able to take advantage of their workers, offering low wages and few benefits. Coupled with lack of job training, and the industry becomes ripe for workplace accidents and fatalities. Once such fatality occurred at a Trulieve ($TCNNF) cultivation facility in Mt. Holyoke, MA in January of 2022. 27 year old Lorna McMurrey had been rushed to the hospital twice after collapsing, unable to breath. She was placed on life support and passed away 4 days later. Respiratory issues linked to improper grow environments were identified years ago, so there is no logical reason to not implement existing safety measures. It would protect both the worker and the investment itself, no?
Another issue is the lack of unionization taking place in the industry. Without a union like the UFCW or Teamsters to represent them in various spheres of the industry, workers have little realistic bargaining power when it comes to negotiating for better pay and benefits. Not to mention the lack of representation in policy making, which is where health and safety standards can be created, and are often facilitated by unions and their lobbyists. This is a situation that is likely to change in the future, as more workers become aware of their rights and demand better treatment.
It’s important to note that not all companies in the cannabis industry are treating their employees poorly. Some are offering thriving salaries, benefits packages, and opportunities for advancement. However, it’s clear that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all workers in the industry are treated fairly.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and mature, it’s likely that we will see more attention paid to the issue of worker rights. It’s a reminder that even in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving industry, we must never lose sight of the importance of treating workers with respect and dignity.
By working together and advocating for change, we can create a more just and equitable industry for everyone involved. It’s up to us to speak up and demand the fair treatment we deserve!
Learn more at www.cannabisworkersresource.com
Read the full article by @LeeDevito here: https://www.metrotimes.com/weed/michigan-cannabis-industry-employees-say-theyre-being-left-behind-32899321