Employees at Lume Cannabis in Escanaba are on the verge of making history by forming the first unionized cannabis workforce in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The group, known internally as "luminaries," recently took significant steps toward unionizing, signaling a new chapter in the labor movement within the region’s cannabis industry.
The decision to unionize was driven by the workers themselves, as noted by Marie Werth, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 1473. "They were encountering issues within their company," Werth explained. "They wanted to ensure their voices were heard. Organizing into a union was the path they chose to achieve that."
Currently, there are 290 cannabis dispensaries across the country affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). If successful, Lume’s Escanaba location would be the first in the Upper Peninsula to join their ranks.
The unionization process is being guided by UFCW Local 1473, with President Jake Bailey outlining the crucial steps involved. "You never file for an election until you've reached out to everyone eligible in the unit and secured support from at least 70% of them through authorization cards," Bailey said. "That support is essential before moving forward with a petition to the National Labor Relations Board."
On July 23rd, 14 out of the 18 budtenders at Lume Escanaba voted in favor of unionizing, surpassing the required threshold with a 78% approval rate.
In response, Lume Cannabis Co-President and COO Doug Hellyar expressed the company's commitment to its employees. "At Lume, we value and respect our amazing employees," Hellyar stated. He highlighted the company’s efforts to provide industry-leading wages, benefits, and professional growth opportunities. According to Hellyar, over 500 Lume employees have been promoted internally, reflecting the company's focus on developing talent from within.
Hellyar also pointed to Lume’s contributions to the Upper Peninsula, including donations of $25,000 to the Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson Cancer Center in Iron Mountain and $17,000 to the Walton Blesch Stadium Legacy Foundation for infrastructure improvements at a historic high school field in Menominee.
For the Lume Escanaba luminaries, the primary motivations behind their unionization effort are wages, benefits, and guaranteed working hours. With the initial vote completed, negotiation meetings for the collective bargaining agreement are expected to commence in the coming months.
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