Workers at Zen Leaf Dispensary in Highland Park, IL End Relationship with Union

Workers at Zen Leaf Dispensary in Highland Park, Illinois, last week received final approval to decertify their membership in the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881. The workers voted 10-1 in October to end their union participation, which was approved by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on November 3.

In a statement, Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation, which offered free legal aid to the workers in the decertification effort, said: “Zen Leaf employees have joined the groundswell of workers nationwide who are exercising their right to declare independence from union bosses who don’t represent their interests.”

“This again shows the pressing need for the NLRB to step in and take action against state laws which, in violation of federal labor law, unlawfully mandate that businesses hand over their workers to forced-dues union ranks.” — Mix in a press release

According to the National Right to Work Foundation, the decision marks the third decertification by cannabis industry workers this year. In May, employees of Herbal Wellness Center in Athens, Ohio voted to decertify their relationship with the Teamsters Local 413. In July, Green Thumb Industries employees at four locations in New Jersey chose to end their participation with UFCW Local 360.