Independent investigative reporter, Dusty Christensen, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about his recent story on the marijuana industry, “Exploitation, Abuse, and Death: The Dark Side of Working in the Weed Industry.” Christensen further discussed the possible hazards workers face and their ongoing battle for union representation.
Following the demise of factory work in the Holy Oak, Mass. area, the city struggled to bring companies to the area to provide work for residents. However, once the marijuana industry was legalized, Holy Oak became the hub for the marijuana industry in the Bay State. Marijuana companies began filling the old factory buildings and hiring residents to take on the growing and production of their product. Following the death of a worker within one of these factories, many workers began searching for answers to better workplace safety.
In his article, Christensen outlines the early growth of the marijuana facilities, and how the rapid expansion of the industry has created the issues with workplace safety seen today. Since the facilities are housed in old manufacturing sites are not modernized and lack proper ventilation of the cannabis dust in the air. This creates hazards similar to what agricultural workers face with breathing hazards caused by the constant dust and debris. As more workers complain, many are left wondering if the marijuana industry is facing a similar problem as the mining industry did with Black Lung, Christensen said.
Many of the factories are not unionized at this time, but unions like the Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers are the driving force behind getting union protections to these workers. Without these protections, workers are left to find solutions on their own. The marijuana companies are hiring anti-union consultants to come into the workplace as the desire for union representation grows. It is believed that if one of the unions is able to win a first contract, a wave of organization would follow and a majority of the industry would look to gain union representation.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.