The RWDSU

The Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union (RWDSU), affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), is a labor organization representing workers across retail, wholesale, and related industries. Local 338 of the RWDSU/UFCW serves members employed in diverse sectors, including the emerging medical cannabis industry in New York Stat... e. The union negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of its members to secure competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and workplace protections. A notable example of the union's negotiating success is the three-year contract ratified by workers at Vireo Health New York, which covers employees across the company's cultivation and processing center as well as four retail dispensaries throughout New York State. The agreement, which became retroactive to August 2019 following months of negotiations, includes significant improvements over the union's previous 2016 contract with the same employer. Key provisions of the Vireo Health New York contract include annual wage increases distributed across the contract term, strong starting salaries for newly hired workers, and increased paid time off for current employees. The union emphasizes that such agreements establish industry standards and demonstrate the tangible value of collective representation in securing fair compensation, job security, and respectful working conditions. By bringing workers together in organized negotiations, the RWDSU/UFCW Local 338 has successfully advocated for contract terms that recognize worker contributions and ensure competitive treatment within New York's medical cannabis sector and related industries. The union's approach combines member participation in the negotiating process with strategic advocacy, enabling workers to achieve contracts that balance employer operational needs with worker welfare and dignity on the job.Read More