Highlights;
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Announcement: Product support agents and analysts from cannabis software company Dutchie have filed to form a union with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1445.
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About Dutchie:
- Founded in 2017, Dutchie provides business software to over 6,500 dispensaries nationwide.
- The company facilitates 1 million transactions daily.
- Its platform supports cannabis businesses in efficiently providing safe and compliant cannabis products.
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Role of Workers:
- As product support agents and analysts, these workers assist consumers and cannabis businesses with technical support.
- They represent Dutchie for thousands of clients, ensuring the platform’s success.
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Reasons for Unionization:
- Concerns over job security due to layoffs, outsourcing, and the introduction of AI tools.
- Inconsistent compensation that does not align with tenure or performance.
- Raises have not kept up with the cost of living.
- Micromanagement and strict metrics have created a stressful work environment.
- Desire for improved working conditions, fair pay, job security, and better time-off policies.
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Quotes from Workers:
- Thelonius “Theo” Spence: Highlighted the need for stability and fair treatment, especially in a challenging political climate.
- Michael Guarino: Emphasized the importance of work-life balance and mental health while advocating for equitable conditions.
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UFCW’s Role:
- As America’s largest cannabis union, UFCW has advocated for workers in the cannabis industry for over a decade.
- The union focuses on ensuring jobs are safe, equitable, and family-sustaining as the industry grows.
- UFCW supports labor protections and worker solidarity.
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Conclusion:
- The unionization effort reflects the broader movement for workers’ rights and solidarity in the cannabis industry.
- For more information, visit ufcw.org/cannabis.
[PRESS RELEASE] – BOSTON, Aug. 8, 2025
Product support agents and analysts at Dutchie, a leading cannabis software company, have filed to form a union with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1445. Founded in 2017, Dutchie provides essential business software to over 6,500 dispensaries nationwide and processes approximately 1 million transactions daily.
The workers, who are integral to Dutchie’s operations, provide critical technical support to both consumers and cannabis businesses. Their efforts ensure the platform remains efficient, accessible, and compliant, directly contributing to the safe provision of cannabis products to the public.
Motivated by concerns over inconsistent compensation, job insecurity due to outsourcing and automation, and micromanagement, the employees seek improved working conditions, fair pay, and enhanced job security. They emphasize the need for a healthier work-life balance and better time-off policies.
Thelonius “Theo” Spence, a Tier 2 product support analyst and organizing committee member, expressed the urgency for unity, stating, “In this political climate, it’s crucial we stand together to address workplace challenges and support a broader movement of worker solidarity.”
Michael Guarino, another Tier 2 analyst, highlighted the importance of aligning company values with employee well-being, stating, “Our industry promotes health and well-being, and it’s time these values are reflected within Dutchie. Maintaining work-life balance and mental health should not come at the cost of performance.”
As the largest cannabis union in the U.S., UFCW has been advocating for workers’ rights in the industry for over a decade, ensuring jobs are safe, equitable, and family-sustaining.
For more information on UFCW’s efforts in the cannabis industry, visit ufcw.org/cannabis.
