Legislation Would Provide Cannabis Workers with Training, ensuring the creation of a structured, secure pathway to well-paying and safe jobs
Las Vegas, NV – United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 711 would like to thank Governor Steve Sisolak for signing SB 346, a bill sponsored by Senator Harris, to make it easier for cannabis workers to access training in a new and thriving industry. The following statement may be attributed to Mike Gittings, President, UFCW Local 711:
“Establishing a Cannabis Training program in Nevada while the industry is still emerging will ensure the creation of a structured, secure pathway to well-paying and safe jobs in the cannabis industry. This program will also promote entrepreneurism and foster innovation while maximizing diversity and equity within the industry.
“Cannabis Training programs provide workers with industry recognition, education, and training. Creating certifications for all parts of the cannabis supply chain (including retail, cultivation, processing, and testing) can reduce turnover and provide workers with pathways to careers within the industry. Certification courses may include botany of the cannabis plant, consumer access and health, sustainable agriculture, and safe extraction, as well as soft skills and professional development.
“A jointly managed (union/management) workforce development program is vital. Unions that work in the cannabis industry regularly interact with employers. They ensure that apprentices receive support on and off the job, they help enforce wage standards, and they provide job protections. This much-needed legislation would help workers and business owners alike gain familiarity with their responsibilities and safe practices under Nevada’s workplace safety laws. We thank Governor Sisolak for signing and joining our efforts in helping cannabis workers succeed in this new industry.”
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UFCW Local 711
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2019
CONTACT:
Jenna Thompson
916.444.7280