[PRESS RELEASE] – CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2026 – The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1059 announced that wellness advisers and lead wellness advisers voted to unionize at Sunnyside Dispensary in Chillicothe, Ohio. By joining UFCW, the Chillicothe workers join union colleagues at Sunnyside’s Cincinnati location.
“I want to be part of a cannabis union because I believe the people who work in this industry deserve a strong voice, fair treatment, job security and opportunities to grow,” said Ebony Gatrell, a Sunnyside wellness adviser. “I want to help create a workplace where employees feel respected, supported and valued while building a stronger future for cannabis workers together. At the end of the day, we're not just coworkers; we're a team, and I want to make sure our voices are heard.”
“We are excited to get to the bargaining table and negotiate a first contract that empowers us and reflects the value that we bring to Sunnyside every day,” said Stacie Hupp, a Sunnyside wellness adviser. “We started this union by simply talking to each other about how to make our jobs better, and now we have an opportunity to make that vision a reality.”
“This union feels like an opportunity for me to have a more active part in what it means and looks like to be a wellness adviser in the cannabis industry,” said Jojo Sattler, a Sunnyside wellness adviser. “My desire is to stand with the people in my workplace so that we can continue to show up as our best selves, for each other and for our community.
“We are thrilled to welcome workers from Sunnyside Dispensary’s Chillicothe location into the UFCW family and the 17,000 workers represented by UFCW Local 1059,” UFCW Local 1059 President Mike Nichols said. “They care deeply about their customers and the community that they have built, and we look forward to supporting them as they bargain their first contract.”
Background
- Sunnyside Dispensary workers at the company’s Chillicothe location won their union election in August. Wellness advisers and lead wellness advisers make up the 16-worker bargaining unit. Workers at Sunnyside’s location in Cincinnati are also represented by UFCW Local 1059.
- Workers will now enter negotiations for their first collective bargaining agreement. Their priorities include better wages, greater transparency around career mobility, and more employee input into day-to-day operations and standard operating procedures.
