Posts tagged Ann Arbor
Does federal marijuana prohibition mean cannabis workers can’t unionize?
September 19, 2025 // That’s what so-called “trigger laws” in California, New York and Massachusetts call for: allowing workers to petition state labor-relations entities if the NLRB cannot function. That could work against cannabis companies in such blue states. In contrast, it would be a boon for anti-unionization efforts in states with weak labor laws such as Missouri, where the cannabis industry is doing comparatively well compared to other states. It’s not clear what might happen next in Michigan, where Democratic lawmakers repealed anti-union “right-to-work” laws in 2024.
Cannabis workers strike to form union in Ann Arbor
September 4, 2025 // UFCW says an Exclusive Brands worker who was recently fired had been supporting the unionization effort and also claims the company tried to block a union election. UFCW filed a complaint with the state cannabis agency and an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in late August. An Exclusive Brands spokesperson declined to comment to Axios. The Livonia-based retailer and grower has seven dispensaries in Michigan.
Planned Parenthood workers become first to unionize in Michigan
January 27, 2025 // Under the new agreement, PPMI says that they will create a process for addressing workplace concerns, implement structured wage increases, and provide benefits that ensure, “competitive compensation, including additional pay for positions requiring multilingual skills.”
Service Employees International Union workers reach tentative agreement with University of Michigan Health
October 15, 2024 // SEIU Healthcare Michigan agreed to a three-year deal with U-M Health ahead of a potential work stoppage planned for Tuesday (Oct. 15), which has now been canceled. SEIU represents about 2,700 respiratory therapists, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialists, phlebotomists, patient care technicians, inpatient unit clerks, and clerical staff who work for the clinical operation of Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan Health. The agreement was a first for the newly formed collective bargaining unit.
Four Ann Arbor Sweetwaters’ locations unionize for better pay and clearer firing policies
December 14, 2023 // Workers at four Ann Arbor Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea locations announced that they filed to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board in an Instagram post Thursday evening. The workers at the Michigan Union, West Washington Street, Westgate Library and Meijer Ann Arbor-Saline Road locations will be organizing together as a single bargaining unit, with the goals of increasing pay, improving benefits and creating a clearer process for firing employees. The locations will be represented by Teamsters Local 243, the local chapter of the international union International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
500 Michigan Medicine workers unionize
June 30, 2023 // About 500 additional workers from Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine have joined the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals, American Federation of Teachers Local 6739, according to a health system statement shared with Becker's June 28. The workers join a bargaining unit that represents diagnostic technologists. With the additional workers, the bargaining unit now has about 1,400 members. New members seek more input in scheduling, staffing-related working conditions and other workplace issues, Cheryl Bodmer, a surgical technologist at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said, according to mlive.com.
Starbucks says union broke rules by recording talks in 5 places
October 28, 2022 // The NLRB prohibits recordings or transcripts of contract negotiations and has previously argued against recording bargaining sessions
NLRB General Counsel Calls for Union Organizing Through ‘Card Check’
April 22, 2022 // "In my experience, the card-signing process often is not an accurate indicator of actual interest in or support for a union," Pryzbylski said. "Many employees are peer pressured or coerced into signing cards, but if and when permitted to vote in a secret-ballot election, [they] vote against union representation."
Spurred on by SWC-UAW contract, student workers nationwide pursue greater workplace protections
February 26, 2022 // The union's victories have spurred student-worker unions across the nation to fight for similar goals
Four Michigan Starbucks locations file petitions to organize unions
January 28, 2022 //