Missouri dispensary fires 12 after off-site union meeting; nearby store votes to unionize 18-2

# What happened A dozen former employees at Greenlight Dispensary in Springfield, Missouri, say they were fired after attending an off-site union-organizing meeting. The workers allege the terminations were retaliation for organizing activity.

A related Greenlight location in Joplin voted 18-2 on Sept. 18 to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 2. Joplin staff will now bargain their first contract with the retailer.

# Who's involved Greenlight Dispensary operates multiple Missouri retail locations. Both the Springfield and Joplin stores were placed under management affiliated with Good Day Farm in March 2025, according to reporting. Good Day Farm is a multi-state operator referenced in the coverage and in lawsuits that allege it improperly controls multiple Missouri retailers.

# Timeline, condensed

• March 2025: Management of both Greenlight locations shifted to an entity affiliated with Good Day Farm.
• Sept. 17 (reported): Springfield employees attended an off-site union-organizing meeting. A co-worker told management about the meeting.
• Sept. 18: Joplin employees voted 18-2 to join UFCW Local 2.
• The day before the Joplin vote, Springfield terminated 12 workers, according to reporting.

Former Springfield employees say the terminations were direct retaliation for union organizing. One worker, identified in reporting as Madison Taylor, said a co-worker informed management about the off-site meeting and the firings followed.

# Company response and competing claim Greenlight's public response was limited. The company declined to comment on the firings, saying it does not comment on personnel matters and that it takes compliance matters seriously. Management accused the terminated Springfield employees of using marijuana at work — the company's stated reason for the firings as reported.

# Legal and regulatory context Reporting notes separate lawsuits that allege Good Day Farm illegally controls more Missouri cannabis retailers than state law permits. Those suits are part of a broader backdrop that includes shifts in ownership or management at cannabis retailers and growing union organizing in the industry.

# What Joplin workers want Workers at the newly unionized Joplin location listed priorities for their first contract: more consistent scheduling, equitable tip distribution, and better pay. Those are the bargaining topics they will bring to negotiations with management.

# Why this matters now The incident sits alongside other recent cannabis labor organizing wins in the region and nationally. The sequence — management change, organizing activity, public allegations, and a vote the next day at a sister location — raises labor-law and public-relations questions for the employer and offers a practical case study for other cannabis workers considering organizing.

# Practical takeaways

• Workers: Document meetings and any communications about organizing. If you believe you were fired for union activity, preserve evidence and consider contacting a union or labor attorney.

• Both sides: Expect the Joplin vote to shift focus to bargaining over pay, scheduling, and tips, while legal claims around control of retail licenses may continue in parallel.