Marijuana Dispensary Neta Accused Of Using Union-Busting Tactics Against Employees

Marijuana dispensary NETA has been accused of quashing employee efforts to unionize at its Brookline and Franklin facilities.

Marijuana dispenser NETA's Brookline facility. NETA is accused of thwarting employees' attempts to unionize. NETA denies the allegations.
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Kristin Palpini

07/25/2020 9:02 a.m.

Over the last two months, the UFCW Local 1445 (United Food and Commercial Workers) labor union has filed a host of federal complaints alleging that employees have been fired or threatened over collective bargaining efforts at two of the facilities owned by NETA - New England Treatment Access, according to the Boston Business Journal.

NETA has denied the complaints.

“We support everyone’s right to join or not join a union, but because NETA already offers progressive wages and benefits, as well as a collaborative work environment, we don’t think a union is needed,” NETA said in a statement.

But in one UFCW complaint filed in June, the union accuses NETA of firing 53 Brookline workers, with a preference in keeping those who were against unionizing.

NETA has a medical and recreational marijuana dispensary in Northampton that does not appear to have been listed in any complaints.

Brookline workers voted 30-9 on Friday, July 24, not to unionize.

Franklin staff have yet to vote.

UFCW said it will appeal the Brookline decision.

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