Resounding Union Victory at Brooklyn Cannabis Dispensary
Workers at Gotham Vote Overwhelmingly to Join Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW
On June 11, 2025, workers at Gotham Dispensary in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, voted overwhelmingly in a decisive 18-3 union election to join Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, marking another milestone in the fight for dignity and fairness in the cannabis industry.
“I wanted to join Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW so that everyone at Gotham would have a collective voice,” said Cara Behar, a budtender at Gotham. “Unions are the backbone of this country, and their presence is more important now than ever. We’re demanding fair scheduling, equitable treatment of part- and full-time workers, and basic protections. Watching my coworkers be fired for organizing only strengthened our resolve.”
The election, supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), brings union representation to 25 workers at the popular Brooklyn location.
“We need an advocate in the workplace,” added Malik Bowens, a delivery driver. “A union gives us a voice in how we’re treated, and how the store runs. We want clear communication, fair scheduling, and respect. Winning this election means we’re one step closer to that.”
This win comes after months of organizing, during which Local 338 filed unfair labor practice charges against Gotham, alleging the company unlawfully terminated strong union supporters. Despite management's use of union-busting tactics, including hiring an anti-union consultant, workers remained united and undeterred.
Organizing New Industries to Build the Labor Movement
Organizing in new and emerging industries like cannabis is vital to growing worker power and building the labor movement for the next generation. These are often fast-growing sectors with largely non-union workforces—often employing young, diverse, and passionate workers who are eager to make their voices heard.
The cannabis industry in particular is poised to create thousands of jobs across the state, and ensuring those jobs are unionized is essential to raising standards—not only in cannabis, but across the retail and service sectors.
With this victory, Gotham workers join a growing movement of cannabis workers across New York building power in their workplaces. Local 338 now represents approximately 600 cannabis workers statewide, from cultivation and processing to dispensaries and delivery services.
The message is clear: If you want a better job, you need a union. And if you want a better cannabis industry, it starts with organized workers leading the way.
A Vision Realized Through Political and Organizing Power
This victory was yet another win as part of a broader strategy that the union helped shape from the very beginning. Through relentless political advocacy, the union played a key role in ensuring that New York’s cannabis legalization law included strong labor protections, including labor peace agreements and collective bargaining rights for workers.
RWDSU didn’t just fight for legalization—it fought to ensure that the new industry would offer good union jobs with a voice on the job. That work is paying off as cannabis workers across the state continue to organize.
“The solidarity and strength the workers at Gotham displayed over the last six months of this unionization campaign has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Joseph Fontano, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW. “They came together to advocate for each other, even in the face of unfair labor practices. This win shows the power of organizing and the vision we had when we helped shape cannabis legalization in New York. We’re proud to welcome Gotham workers into our union family and look forward to winning them a strong first contract.”
