Business owner: Labor peace agreements can ensure racial justice in Maryland’s legal cannabis industry – Maryland Matters

By Hope Wiseman

The author is co-founder of Mary & Foremost and a member of Progressive Maryland.

The legalization of hashish in Maryland is a chance to additional racial justice and degree the enjoying discipline for Black individuals, entrepreneurs and staff alike. That may solely occur if honest labor peace agreements are put in place first, however our Maryland Common Meeting simply voted in opposition to the modification to incorporate them.

With the choice to not embrace any language round fairness for hashish staff, they’ve didn’t progress towards significant change on a systemic degree right here in our state.

Labor peace agreements are important for making certain fairness within the hashish business. These legally binding contracts are negotiated between employers and commerce unions representing staff, permitting for office security, honest wages, healthcare advantages, and making certain that employers don’t discriminate in opposition to any group or particular person throughout hiring processes or whereas they’re employed there. By establishing a collaborative relationship between employers and staff, labor peace agreements present an equitable system of regulatory compliance that addresses a crucial side of structural racism head-on.

It’s a colossal disappointment that our legislators don’t see the worth of labor peace agreements. With out such agreements in place, traditionally oppressed teams will proceed to be left behind in terms of constructing a fruitful profession on the earth of authorized hashish. Labor peace agreements would have ensured that hashish staff, who overwhelmingly come from minority communities, have alternatives to earn a dwelling wage, in clear and protected working situations, with ample alternatives for upward mobility, and different protections. That is significantly necessary for marginalized communities who’ve traditionally been deprived within the workforce. By failing to incorporate labor peace agreements within the hashish reform invoice this yr, our legislators have despatched the message that they don’t worth the rights and well-being of staff on this business. I hope the Moore Administration acknowledges this missed alternative and takes motion to appropriate it by making a transfer to instill labor peace agreements within the subsequent legislative session.

My enterprise, Mary and Foremost, was based by three Black entrepreneurs who don’t match the everyday profile of a hashish enterprise proprietor. We personal and function our enterprise in a neighborhood that has been traditionally deprived and lots of of our staff come from this neighborhood as nicely. We’re pleased with the constructive and progressive work atmosphere that we now have been in a position to create for our staff. This didn’t come with out battle and triumph, nevertheless, we perceive the significance of making an atmosphere the place everybody feels heard, revered, and has upward mobility. For this reason we now have signed a labor peace settlement at M&M and plan to proceed to present our staff the liberty to unionize at any of our future companies. It is going to be crucial for Maryland to implement quickly a brand new, extra sturdy hashish laws accompanied by obligatory labor peace agreements so that each one people can have equal entry to the identical alternatives inside this burgeoning business.

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