United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 turned in over 163,000 signatures July 5 in order to qualify a measure for the Oregon ballot in November. The measure, titled “United For Cannabis Workers,” would require cannabis businesses in the state to submit signed labor peace agreements committing to remain neutral when union representatives communicate with their employees about their rights. They would have to sign the agreements in order to obtain or renew a license to do business. The Oregon Secretary of State has until Aug. 5 to verify signatures.
Based in Tigard, Local 555 represents over 26,000 grocery and other workers in Oregon, Southwest Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming.
It has backed the measure with a major commitment of resources. Campaign finance disclosures show the union contributed $65,000 to the campaign through last November and then $2.4 million in in-kind contributions in the last few months.
Local 555 filed the measure in June 2023 after Democratic leaders in the Oregon legislature failed to move a similar piece of legislation. The chief petitioners on the measure are Local 555’s president Dan Clay and political liaisons Madison Walters and Fiona Yau-Luu.
