The feud between the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360 and The Cannabis Place (TCP) dispensary in Jersey City is escalating, with the union calling on the business to honor their prior commitments in the midst of a federal lawsuit.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“For workers at The Cannabis Place, this is about whether their jobs will provide fair wages, access to affordable health care, and a meaningful voice in the workplace,” UFCW Local 360 Director of Organizing Hugh Giordano said in a statement.
“Local 360 provided meaningful support to Osbert’s business and worked with him to build and launch a career-oriented training partnership because we believed in the commitments he made. He may have decided to simply abandon those commitments, but his employees deserve to see them fulfilled, including at the bargaining table.”
UFCW views the TCP’s lawsuit as an attempt to evade the commitments CEO Osbert Orduna publicly made to his workers.
According to the complaint, TCP announced an LPA with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360 in July 2024 to comply with state licensing requirements.
TCP terminated that agreement in June 2026 following ongoing disputes in which the union allegedly attempted to leverage interest arbitration through the Labor Peace Agreement (LPA) early in the bargaining process to force unfavorable provisions not practical or sustainable for TCP, the suit claims.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges that the mandatory LPA requirements imposed by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission under the CREAMM Act conflict with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
“We respect Mr. Orduna’s military service and enthusiastically supported him in building this business. So, the recent dishonorable behavior on his part is very disappointing,” UFCW Local 360 President Sam Ferraino declared.
“TCP’s workers deserve an employer that deals honorably with those helping it succeed. We’re asking Osbert to be that kind of employer, to follow through on public pledges, and to work honestly toward a fair contract that leads to meaningful improvements on the job.”
According to the union, TCP offered neither a counterproposal nor suggested revisions to its opening contract proposal.
Giordano raised concerns about the lack of a counterproposal before the Jersey City Council on October 7th, emphasizing the potential negative consequences for employees seeking better pay and working conditions.
While the council subsequently pushed their vote on renewing the TCP’s license, a federal judge granted temporary restraints to allow the dispensary to stay open at least an additional 14 days, both as HCV first reported.
“Any serious consideration of social equity must include worker equity. Opening doors for minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses matters,” Ferraino added.
“So does ensuring that the people working in those businesses have an opportunity to build secure, family-supporting careers.”
In response, Orduna didn’t show any signs of backing down.
“UFCW Local 360’s press release is a desperate PR stunt designed to distract from their own reckless actions. Just days ago, their Director of Organizing stood before the Jersey City Municipal Council and actively urged them to withhold our local license,” he told HCV.
“Had the federal court not intervened, the union’s political maneuvering would have forced the immediate closure of our Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business and eliminated the jobs of our 20 Jersey City employees overnight. Attempting to destroy a business and put our staff out on the street is not protecting employees; it is a coercive pressure tactic. Thankfully, the federal judicial system saw through this blatant overreach and issued an emergency injunction.”
He went on to say that “bad faith” claims are hypocritical since TCP filed unfair labor practice charges against UFCW Local 360 with the National Labor Relations Board in August.
“We fully support our employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act. However, we will not be bullied into surrendering our federal rights or capitulating to unconstitutional, state-sponsored mandates dictated by a union cartel,” Orduna declared.
“We went to federal court to protect our constitutional rights and our employees’ jobs, and we look forward to prevailing.”
