Sacramento, CA – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Western States Council today announced that Kristin Heidelbach has joined the organization in a new position as Cannabis Workforce Development and Legislative Advocate. Kristin joins UFCW Western States Council’s women-led leadership team which includes Executive Director Amber Baur, President Andrea Zinder, Legislative Director Jassy Grewal and Workforce Development Advisor Sara Miles. In her new role as an advocate for California cannabis workers, Kristin will help create and build UFCW’s Cannabis Workforce Development program, bring the voices of UFCW’s cannabis workers to the California capitol, and provide support for the local unions in their cannabis organizing work. Kristin starts her new role today, Monday April 18, 2022.
“As Cannabis Workforce Development and Legislative Advocate, I look forward to ensuring California’s workers come first in the cannabis industry,” said Kristin Heidelbach. “UFCW’s cannabis workers have considerable experience and insights when it comes to professionalizing cannabis, and through organizing, they have made California’s cannabis jobs and the public safer. I’m grateful for the opportunity to join UFCW Western States Council’s powerhouse team to make sure industry and elected leaders listen and learn from the insights cannabis workers bring to the table, and that cannabis jobs provide living wages, the training and education workers need, and the dignity and respect workers deserve.”
Kristin spent the last six years serving as an International Representative and California Cannabis Division Director for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In that position she worked closely with the cannabis industry and city, county and state elected officials on labor concerns, policy and regulations and interfaced with federal cannabis stakeholders to ensure workers had a seat at the table. Kristin also served for four years as the Vice Chair of the California Cannabis Advisory Committee, and was listed in the 2019 Green Market Report Top Women in Weed. Kristin has a degree in Social Work from California State University Sacramento.
“California’s cannabis workers need strong voices and passionate hearts like Kristin fighting for them,” said Amber Baur, executive director, UFCW Western States Council. “I know Kristin will ensure our cannabis worker members are lifted up and their futures are bright. I can’t wait to start working with her to build our cannabis workforce development capacity.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2022
Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]