Oregon – Measure 119, United for Cannabis Workers Act, has qualified for the 2024 election statewide in Oregon. If passed, the measure would ensure that cannabis workers’ freedoms to organize and bargain collectively are protected under state law. No one would be required to join a union, but workers would have the freedom to do so if they choose.
“Workers across every industry should have the freedom to unionize if they so choose. This ballot measure closes an age-old loophole that deprives that right to thousands of Oregon cannabis workers. Shady cannabis tycoons have taken advantage of an outdated law to strip workers’ rights that are guaranteed to nearly every other American. By passing Measure 119, voters will enshrine the freedom to unionize in the Oregon Cannabis industry.” Dan Clay, President, UFCW Local 555.
“The freedom to form a union is a right that was secured by the generations of workers that built this country. While other American workers have inherited those hard-won liberties, Oregon cannabis workers are being left behind. Oregon voters have the opportunity to deliver on the sacred promise that we should all have equal rights under the law. You have the freedom to form a union; when we pass measure 119, Oregon cannabis workers will too.” Miles Eshaia, Communications Coordinator, UFCW Local 555.
“Cannabis workers in Oregon face significant challenges when it comes to voicing concerns about safety and product standards. Reports from workers across the state reveal a troubling pattern: toxic chemicals, unchecked safety concerns, and lack of proper PPE, are rampant in the industry. Employers often cut corners, compromising both worker and consumer safety. Those who attempt to raise these issues often don’t come forward due to inadequate protections. As a result, when you purchase cannabis in Oregon, there’s no guarantee that workers’ safety wasn’t jeopardized in the process.” Sandy Humphrey, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 555.
The measure is already supported by the Oregon AFL-CIO and Oregon Working Families Party, as well as a number of state and local officials, including Democratic nominee for Attorney General Dan Rayfield, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, and lawmakers including Senator Chris Gorsek and Representatives Jules Walters and Khanh Pham.
Of the measure, Senator Gorsek said: “I am excited to help ensure that the freedom to join a union is enjoyed by as many Oregon workers as possible. This measure will bring us in line not only with the other states that have paved the way, but also with Oregon’s own values.”
Full measure text available at www.ufcw555.us/m119-text