Canna Cabana workers in Ottawa vote Union Yes to join UFCW Local 175
Cannistas at a Canna Cabana on Clarence Street in Ottawa voted to join UFCW Local 175. This group of close-knit employees wanted to improve working conditions for a number of reasons from ending favouritism to having better compensation.
July 9, 2025
The Cannistas at a Canna Cabana location in Ottawa on Clarence recently voted to join UFCW Local 175.
This group of close-knit employees knew they wanted to improve their working conditions for a number of reasons from ending favouritism to having better compensation.
In 2020, employees at Canna Cabana in Hamilton made history by being the first retail cannabis location in Ontario to unionize when they joined UFCW Local 175. In welcoming these new members, it brings the number of Canna Cabana locations where the employees are represented by our Union to nine!
“We’ve been proud to represent workers in this industry for several years now and we are excited to welcome our newest Canna Cabana members,” said President Kelly Tosato. “As this industry continues to grow and change, more and more retail cannabis workers are seeking Union representation because they want and deserve more for their labour and the extensive knowledge and dedication they bring to their roles.”
With a number of existing Canna Cabana collective agreements already bargained by UFCW Local 175, these members are off to a good start. Our newest members at Canna Cabana will now be able to use collective bargaining to achieve better wages and benefits, improve their job security, and ensure fair treatment, consistent scheduling, and more.
Congratulations to our new members at Canna Cabana on Clarence in Ottawa! Welcome to your Union.
What is a Cannista? Cannista is a term applied to service workers in a cannabis shop! You might also see them called Budtenders.
Learn more about why cannabis retail workers are joining UFCW Local 175!