Union decries provincial rollout of cannabis legalization
An application for certification was filed with the provincial labour board on Oct. 26, for employees of the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC), on rue Bouvier in Quebec City.
“We will do everything we can to ensure these employees have the best possible working conditions and wages that reflect the responsibilities of their jobs with this new Crown corporation,” said Pierre-Guy Sylvestre, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) economist.
Earlier, CUPE denounced the poor management of the rollout of legal cannabis in Quebec. On Oct. 26, it was announced that the SQDC would only be open four days a week starting this week, said CUPE.
Employees working in SQDC stores are earning $14 per hour, not much more than the minimum wage of $12, but employees will earn at least $16 per hour, said the union.
CUPE will work to ensure that SQDC employees have a contract equivalent to those of the SAQ (Quebec liquor stores) or Hydro-Québec, said the union.
