Ottawa Canna Cabana members ratify first agreement
June 23, 2026
Employees at two Canna Cabana locations in Ottawa have ratified their first collective agreement as members of UFCW Local 175.
The budtenders, who work at Canna Cabana locations in Byward Market and on Rideau Street, ratified their first agreement on June 9, 2026. This round of bargaining did require the assistant of a Conciliation Officer to deal with the issue of wages.
Members will see important improvements to their wages with a new grid, and increases in year one ranging from 2.5% to 3.5% for both full-time and part-time, depending on length of service. Further increases for both full and part-time employees at all rates and progressions bring another 2% in year two, and 2% in year three. Members also benefit from lump sum of $400 for full-time and $200 for part-time, effective the date of ratification.
Through bargaining, the Union Negotiating Committee was able to maintain all existing benefits, paid 100% by the employer, for the members. Members will also benefit from paid bereavement and paid sick days which have been added to the agreement.
Remembrance Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation have been included in this agreement as paid statutory holidays. Members will also benefit from an additional floater day as of ratification, and a second floater day as of January 2029. The employer will contribute $0.03 per hour worked to the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund, which assists the Union in providing training opportunities for members.
The two stores covered by this collective will continue to operate as separate bargaining units. However, by having members at both stores covered by one agreement, the Union Negotiating Committee was able to bargain language regarding call-in preference and job postings that will go to each store before going outside the bargaining units.
This allows our members more options and provides more job security.
Find out more about how UFCW Local 175 can benefit employees in retail cannabis!
Union Negotiating Committee: Damian Barraso, Joenix Benitez-Alfaro, Jesse (Jay) Morel, Union Representative Damian Hulshof, and Regional Director Paul Hardwick.