Columbia marijuana dispensary settles labor disputes with union, workers to get backpay

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Ten people that say they lost their jobs at a marijuana dispensary while trying to organize a union will get money back after settling their labor cases.

The National Labor Relations Board said the owners of Shangri-La South and workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 resolved their cases. Spokeswoman Kayla Blado said ten workers will receive back pay plus interest. Workers will receive anywhere between $6,000 and $18,000 before withholdings from the company. Five workers will receive another $5,000 instead of going back to work for Shangri-La.

Blado said the company will also have to "post a notice of employees’ rights in the store, email it to employees, send it on [WhatsApp], and read it to employees."

Workers there will be allowed to unionize with UFCW Local 655 as part of the settlement. UFCW Local 655 president Dave Cook praised the decision, calling it a historic win for the workers. He said the union would soon begin working with employees on coming up with a bargaining agreement to send to the company. Cook said he rarely sees workers receive as much from the NLRB as those involved in this case have.

The union filed complaints to the NLRB earlier this year when workers attempted to organize a unit at the south Columbia dispensary. Workers told ABC 17 News that the company would fire people for vague reasons, but suspected it had to do with their efforts to organize. Workers narrowly voted to unionize with UFCW in June.

The union and company were set to argue their cases at the NLRB in Columbia on Monday. Blado said the settlement cancels the hearing.

Representatives for Shangri-La did not immediately return a request for comment.