## Eaze Delivery Drivers Reach Agreement with UFCW After Months of Negotiations
Following a nine-month labor dispute, delivery drivers employed by Eaze/Stachs have finally reached an agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324. This agreement comes after the union threatened a strike, effectively cornering the company into returning to the negotiation table.
Increased pay: Drivers will receive a well-deserved pay raise, ensuring fair compensation for their work.
A transparent and fair process will be established for reimbursing drivers for the costs associated with operating their vehicles.
The agreement outlines clear and consistent work hours, providing drivers with greater stability and predictability.
The agreement guarantees a range of enforceable rights and protections for drivers on the job, ensuring a safe and respectful work environment.
The committee strongly recommends that all Eaze drivers accept the offer, which is expected to happen in the coming days.
"We felt we needed to reject the company's initial offer, and an overwhelming majority of Eaze members agreed, which brought the company back to the table," said Giovanna Sanchez-Esquival, a driver at Element 7 in South San Francisco. This initial rejection, along with previous rejections, led to a temporary halt in negotiations back in March.
This agreement comes at a crucial time for Eaze, as the company faces challenges on multiple fronts, including a lawsuit from former partners Green Dragon.
The successful unionization of Eaze drivers sets a significant precedent for labor rights within the cannabis industry. This industry has seen a surge in unionization efforts in recent years, fueled by the increasing demand for cannabis and the need for fair treatment of workers.
Several other major cannabis companies across the country have also witnessed successful unionization efforts in 2023, including Cannabist Company Holdings Inc in New Jersey, Cresco Labs in Illinois, Grassdoor in California, and Verano Holdings Corp in Chicago.
While the UFCW and Teamsters represent over a million members combined, a multitude of smaller unions also exist within the cannabis industry. However, some of these smaller unions have been criticized by industry workers as being "management-aligned fake unions.