Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council applauded the California Legislature’s passage of ACR 95 (Cunningham & Wicks), a bi-partisan resolution that will have the expert California Law Revision Commission study whether California’s antitrust law should be revised to prohibit anticompetitive, single company monopolies. The following statement may be attributed to Jim Araby, Director of Strategic Campaigns, UFCW Local 5:

“UFCW’s members have been a leading national voice on enforcing federal antitrust laws and principles, especially regarding Amazon, and ACR 95 is a key component of our work to keep the marketplace fair and prevent corporations from using monopoly power to exploit customers. Currently California law does not permit antitrust suits against a single company even if that company is a monolith and wields astronomical power in our daily lives. ACR 95 is simple legislation that will give California’s expert Law Revision Commission the ability to study and report to the Legislature whether state antitrust law reforms are required to protect workers, consumers, and tomorrow’s innovators. UFCW is proud to support this bill and urges the Governor to sign the bill when it gets to his desk.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]

Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today released the following statement from Amber Baur, executive director, UFCW Western States Council, in response to the agreed upon California budget for 2022-2023:

 “The 180,000 UFCW members in California applaud Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature’s 2022-2023 budget that invests in the essential workers who power California’s economy and their families.

“The past few years have been incredibly difficult for frontline workers, demanding tremendous sacrifice by working people and their families. The Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 suspended the federal tax deduction for union dues, putting working people at even more of a disadvantage. The budget approved today by Governor Newsom and the Legislature establishes a refundable tax credit for union dues, allowing workers to level the playing field that tries to keep them at the bottom. We’re glad our elected leaders saw the numerous benefits unions provide workers, like expanded access to healthcare and retirement, a narrowing of race and gender wage disparities and racial wealth gaps, and a path out of poverty through job security, and provided the funding for this important tax credit.

“The agreed upon budget also includes significant funding for pathways to quality jobs for essential workers. Lifting up low-wage workers like UFCW’s members in critical public-facing roles, most of whom are women and people of color, through workforce development dollars is an urgent need for our economy and will help move families into the middle class and begin to undo decades of systemic inequality. 

“The budget also supports the critical work of the University of California Labor Center, doubles the funding to increase retaliation complaint investigation staffing, continues California’s COVID-19 Workplace Outreach Project, and establishes an unpaid wages hardship fund. Funding these key worker protection and information projects will help keep workers safe on the job for years to come.

 “California’s licensed cannabis employers have been unable to maintain high worker wages, benefits, and career growth opportunities because of the high cost of taxes. We applaud the funding of $40 million in tax credit relief for social equity programs and high road cannabis retail operators that provide living wages and benefits, which will bring real relief for retailers and inspire consumers to purchase from legalized shops, not illicit businesses. 

 “We are glad Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature have committed to ensuring working people can fight growing costs of living in California and thrive. We will continue working with the Governor and the Administration to ensure California’s budget gives our members what they need throughout the rest of the budget process this summer.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]

Sacramento, CA – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council applauded the California State Senate for moving SB 1336 (Wiener) to the California Assembly for its  approval. SB 1336 will provide high road cannabis employers access to tax credits, combatting the growing illicit cannabis market. The following statement may be attributed to Matt Bell, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 324:

“California’s legal cannabis industry must be able to provide workers with high road jobs that pay workers living wages, provide good benefits and give workers an opportunity to save for their future. However, employers are being crushed by high tax rates and forced to lay off staff or close their business. We must give legal cannabis employers relief and the opportunity to invest in their workers while providing safety for both consumers and communities not found in the illicit market. SB 1336 is a clear way California can invest in the future of both workers and our cannabis businesses. We’re proud the Senate voted to support workers’ futures and struggling businesses.”

The legalized cannabis industry is currently facing an existential crisis as California battles a thriving illicit market that puts consumers at risk and undermines quality jobs by undercutting high-road employers on wages, benefits and career opportunities. SB 1336 provides targeted tax relief, in the form of a carryforward tax credit, for high road employers who provide living wages and benefits in the cannabis industry to better compete with the illicit cannabis market and to encourage more operators to enter the legal market.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2022

Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]