Nikki Kateman, Political and Communications Director for the Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 338, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the abundance of good paying, union jobs in the New York State legal cannabis industry.
Local 338 represents 13,000 members who work in a variety of industries throughout the state of New York and Northern New Jersey, including several hundred members in New York’s cannabis industry.
Kateman explained how unions were early advocates in New York’s medical marijuana movement and legalization efforts. She estimated the industry will create 30,000 to 60,000 union jobs.
Kateman then said Local 338 became the first Union in New York history to be certified to represent farm workers. The Local currently represents about a dozen agricultural workers at a vineyard on Long Island who are negotiating their first contract.
She also spoke about the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, a New York state law that guarantees farm workers collective bargaining rights.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.