California-based cannabis delivery service Eaze is facing a growing backlash from shift supervisors who claim they are paid less than the workers they oversee, struggle to make ends meet on low and stagnant wages, and are at odds with the company over their right to form a union.
In 2023, nearly 600 delivery drivers at Eaze voted to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), securing a first contract earlier this year after threatening to strike. Since then, more workers have joined the union, including 100 drivers and staff at other California depots and drivers in Sacramento who unionized with the Teamsters. However, shift supervisors have been left in limbo, awaiting decisions from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on their ability to form a union.
Supervisors at Eaze claim they are paid less than the workers they supervise, with some earning as little as $18 an hour, just above the $17.24 an hour minimum wage in Los Angeles county. They also allege that they are unable to afford basic necessities, such as food and transportation, and are forced to borrow money from coworkers to get by.
“I am not making enough money to survive,” said one shift supervisor at Eaze in the Los Angeles area. “I’m on food stamps, but those benefits have started to decrease. I can’t afford to repair my car if it needs it. I can’t afford to eat out. And I’m not the only person that’s going through these kinds of financial problems.”
Supervisors also claim that they are overworked and understaffed, with frequent pest infestations and a lack of support from management. They alleged that depot managers rarely show up on site, leaving supervisors to handle all responsibilities.
“It feels like I’m gasping for air some weeks getting simple things like groceries that I have to hold off while I get by on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” said another supervisor.
The labor strife at Eaze comes as the cannabis industry is experiencing rapid growth, with annual sales increasing by 10.4% to $28.8 billion in 2023. Labor unions are seeking to organize workers in the industry to ensure that this growth does not come at the expense of workers.
Eaze has been plagued by financial troubles, with its assets sold at public auction to an unidentified buyer last month. The company claims it is unable to make changes to workers’ pay, citing financial constraints. However, supervisors are demanding a wage increase, with one supervisor suggesting that the company’s refusal
