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Employees at a cannabis manufacturing facility in Hamilton are the latest group of workers in New Jersey’s legalized industry to unionize.

According to the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360, staffers at Sun Extractions recently voted to organize as members of the union, which represents cannabis industry workers in dispensaries, labs, manufacturing, processing, delivery and grow facilities across the U.S.

A representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since New Jersey’s cannabis laws require management to negotiate in good faith if workers seek union representation, employees at several companies have unionized over the past three years with groups such as UFCW Local 152, UFCW Local 360 and Teamsters Local 469.

Supporting a budding industry

In a statement, UFCW Local 360 director of organizing Hugh Giordano shared, “New Jersey’s cannabis industry is stronger today, thanks to this vote by Sun Extractions workers.”

Giordano also credited UFCW’s “Cannabis Workers Rising” more than 10-year campaign as a factor in the continued organizing success.

“Sustainable success for businesses, employees, and communities starts with fair treatment, strong standards and shared commitments. That’s how jobs in the cannabis industry become long-term careers, and it’s the future these employees are working toward,” he said, adding, “Their hard work is why New Jersey’s medical and adult-use markets are safe and growing, and why sales are on target to exceed $2 billion this year.”

UFCW Local 360 President Sam Ferraino Jr. emphasized that the Sun Extractions vote is emblematic of a growing demand for improved worker protections and benefits across the legal marijuana industry.

“We’re welcoming the workers of Sun Extractions into the Local 360 family, seeing the hard work of our members move an entire industry forward, and talking to other states as they look to New Jersey as a model of how to do it right,” Ferraino said. “It’s another proof-point for what we always say: stronger unions mean stronger industries and stronger communities.”