Media & Press
Local 338’s mission has, and always will be, to better the lives of working people. Since our formation in 1925, Local 338 has focused on organizing non-union workers across New York, bringing them better working conditions and fair wages. Today, over 90 years since our founding, we are over 13,000 members strong, representing workers in diverse industries, including grocery and traditional retail, pharmacies, cannabis, healthcare, transportation, building and maintenance, as well as non-profit organizations and the public sector.
Labor unions represent some of the core values of our country, and we believe it is our duty to provide a safe workplace with fair working conditions for the people we represent. However, our advocacy isn’t simply limited to the workplace. In fact, we recognize the connection between what happens on the job and in a worker’s home.
As a result, through events like food, toy, coat and school supply drives, we regularly volunteer and give back to the communities we represent. Local 338 champions education, which is why we annually award scholarships to members and their dependents through Local 338 Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization we founded in 2015. We also proudly advocate for all working people through our political and legislative action on the state and local level. In the past, we have been part of campaigns centered on item pricing, wage theft protections and living wage provisions, ensuring that all working people, including those not represented by Local 338, are able to provide for themselves and their families.
Labor unions represent some of the core values of our country, and we believe it is our duty to provide a safe workplace with fair working conditions for the people we represent. However, our advocacy isn’t simply limited to the workplace. In fact, we recognize the connection between what happens on the job and in a worker’s home.
As a result, through events like food, toy, coat and school supply drives, we regularly volunteer and give back to the communities we represent. Local 338 champions education, which is why we annually award scholarships to members and their dependents through Local 338 Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization we founded in 2015. We also proudly advocate for all working people through our political and legislative action on the state and local level. In the past, we have been part of campaigns centered on item pricing, wage theft protections and living wage provisions, ensuring that all working people, including those not represented by Local 338, are able to provide for themselves and their families.
Media & Press Requests
For media inquiries or to arrange interviews with workers or Local 338 representatives, please contact our Political & Communications Director, Nikki Kateman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 516-294-1338 ext. 1274.
Full Coverage of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW
________________________________________ 2024 ________________________________________
First Unionized Adult Use Cannabis Cultivation and Processing Facility
Ratifies First Contract (April 24, 2024)
________________________________________ 2023 ________________________________________
The next phase of cannabis equity: focusing on employment in New York (August 9, 2023)
________________________________________ 2022 ________________________________________
Leafly.com: New Yorkers may soon be buying weed from union budtenders. Here’s why (November 23, 2022)
OnLabor.com: Members of New York’s first farm-worker union and supporters protest outside of Pindar Vineyards on Long Island to pressure the winery’s owners to negotiate a contract (November 21, 2022)
WSHU.org: Farm workers’ union protests Pindar Vineyards as contract negotiations stall (November 21, 2022)
PRNewsWire.com: LIM College Partners with South Bronx (SoBro) Economic Development and Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW to Enhance Educational Opportunities for Diverse Students in Business of Cannabis Degree Programs (November 21, 2022)
TBRNewsMedia.com: Farmworkers protest outside Pindar wine shop (November 17, 2022)
Work-Bites.com: High Times in NY State: Union Fires Up Plan to Organize Pot Shops (October 20, 2022)
Newsday.com: Unions see opportunity in state cannabis license rule (September 4, 2022)
BxTimes.com: Op-Ed: The significance of Worker’s Memorial Day (April 27, 2022)
CivilEats.com: What a Surge in Union Organizing Means for Food and Farm Workers (March 17, 2022)
Leafly.com: The cannabis workers union protects cannabis workers from seed to sale (November 23, 2022)
________________________________________ 2021 ________________________________________
Historic Cannabis Legalization Vote Passes NY Legislature, Will Provide Opportunity for Working People (March 30, 2021)
RELEASE: Statement on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Statewide Mask Mandate from Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW President John R. Durso (December 13, 2021)
qgazette.com - Local 338 Donates Gift Cards To Addabbo’s Office For Local Food Pantry (December 2, 2021)
RiverheadLocal.com - North Fork vineyard workers make history as first farm laborers union in the state (November 15, 2021)
lavoz.bard.edu - Victoria en los campos (November 10, 2021)
RELEASE: Union Cannabis Workers at Pharmacann Ratify New Contract (October 23, 2021)
Syracuse.com - Marijuana businesses and NY labor unions: Cannabis Insider Q&A (October 19, 2021)
El Diario - “Queremos dignidad y respeto”: hispanos forman el primer sindicato agrícola en la historia de Nueva York, sector azotado por alta mortalidad (October 18, 2021)
Noticia El Correo - Trabajadores de viñedos en Peconic forman 1er. sindicato agrícola en Nueva York (October 14, 2021)
Documented - 12 Workers Make History Forming New York’s First Farmworkers Union (October 13, 2021)
Daily News - Power in a union: For the first time in New York history, farmworkers organize (October 9, 2021)
Newsday - First farmworker union in New York is at Peconic vineyard (October 9, 2021)
Documented - First Farmworker Union Forms in New York State (October 8, 2021)
Black Star News - Historic Certification For First Farm Workers Union In State (October 8, 2021)
The Chief - Peconic vineyard workers first to organize under new law (October 8, 2021)
NCPR - Vineyard employees form New York's farm worker labor union (October 6, 2021)
LaborPress - NYS Farmworkers Make History As Members of Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW (October 6, 2021)
RELEASE: First NY farmworkers union forms (October 6, 2021)
RELEASE: Historic Certification for First Farm Workers Union in New York State (October 6, 2021)
NOTICIA DE PRENSA: Certificaión Histórica Para el Primer Sindicato de Trabajadores Agrícolas en El Estdado de Nueva York (6 de octubre de 2021)
New York Post: New York will be buzzing with union jobs thanks to upcoming pot industry (July 25, 2021)
RELEASE: Statement on West Hempstead Shooting (April 20, 2021)
RELEASE: Union Cannabis Workers at Sunnyside* Ratify First Contract (April 15, 2021)
LaborPress - New NY Marijuana Law Encourages Union Pot Shops (April 1, 2021)
L.A. Weekly – Cuomo Signs New York Legalization Deal Into Law (March 31, 2021)
Gotham Gazette: Cannabis is a Once-A-Generation Opportunity for New York, Let’s Not Waste It
(December 28, 2021)
________________________________________ 2020 ________________________________________
CBS News - Bronx Grocery Store Suddenly Lets Go Workers Who Risked Their Health To Help Others During Height Of Pandemic (August 10, 2020)
The Riverdale Press - Union workers want jobs back at Key Food (August 2, 2020)
New York Times - A Wrinkle in Stores’ Mask Policies: Enforcement (July 29, 2020)
NY1 - Stop & Shop Workers Fight to Get Hazard Pay Reinstated (July 21, 2020)
New York Times - ‘Hero’ Pay Raises Disappear for Many Essential Workers (July 14, 2020)
NY1 - De Blasio Issues Mandate to Wear Face Coverings at Grocery Stores (April 15, 2020)
Time– 'I’ve Never Been So Afraid.' 5 Employees on the Everyday Terror of Working in Grocery Stores During the Pandemic (April 9, 2020)
The Riverdale Press The Leader-Herald - New union contract at Vireo OK’d (January 20, 2020)- Union workers want jobs back at Key Food (August 2, 2020)
________________________________________ 2019 ________________________________________
Rolling Stone - Meet America’s Most Powerful Cannabis Union (June 14, 2019)