Cannabis workers join union – UFCW 175 & 633

Waterloo, Ont. – January 17, 2026 – Budtenders at the Canna Cabana location in Waterloo have voted to join UFCW 175, following in the steps almost a dozen other locations in Ontario.

This newly unionized group of cannabis retail workers came together to improve their workplace and address key issues such as improving scheduling, achieving better compensation, and ensuring fair treatment on the job.

In 2020, employees at Canna Cabana in Hamilton made history by becoming the first retail cannabis location in Ontario to unionize with UFCW Local 175. In subsequent years, workers at Canna Cabana stores in Ottawa, Innisfil, Toronto and more, have joined the union.

“UFCW Local 175 provides workers with protection from arbitrary treatment and an official process to raise concerns through the grievance procedure without fear of retaliation. We are proud to represent workers in the retail cannabis sector and look forward to welcoming more as the industry continues to grow,” said UFCW 175 President Kelly Tosato.

For retail cannabis workers, unionization is about more than contracts and wages. It is about having a say in a fast-growing industry and shaping a future where workers’ rights grow alongside corporate profits. By joining the union, cannabis workers are uniting and standing strong to make sure their employers know that their jobs are skilled, essential, and deserving of respect.

Learn more about the organizing victory at Canna Cabana in Waterloo.

UFCW Locals 175 & 633 represents more than 70,000 working people across all sectors of the Ontario economy including hospitality and services, health care, retail grocery and pharmacy, food production, meat processing, manufacturing, packaging, and more. To learn more about UFCW 175 & 633 and their outstanding work, visit the local union’s website.

How can I join the union?

Are you a non-unionized worker who would like to enjoy the benefits of a UFCW Canada union contract? Do you and your co-workers want to gain the union advantage at work? Join Canada’s best union, UFCW Canada, to make your workplace better today. Click here to join now.