[PRESS RELEASE] ABERDEEN,
Md., May 29, 2024 – Budtenders and shift leads at Ascend Cannabis have voted overwhelmingly
to join Teamsters Local 570. The workers are the first in the state to join the
Teamsters Union.
“We look
forward to addressing the issues that are of the utmost importance to these
workers,” said Sean Cedenio, Local 570 Secretary-Treasurer. “Chief among those
issues are better compensation, guaranteed minimum hours, a fair process for
scheduling, and a safe workplace.”
“Congratulations
to these workers for a truly remarkable, groundbreaking achievement,” said
Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Food
Processing Division Director. “We’ve won strong union contracts at Ascend
dispensaries in other states, and we look forward to doing the same thing
here.”
Ascend
customers were supportive of the workers during the organizing drive, with many
of them wearing “vote yes” buttons inside the dispensary during the lead up to
the vote.
“We come from
an area that's very blue-collar, very working class, so the customers want us
to win a union just as bad as we do,” said Ryan Bennett, an Ascend worker on
the organizing committee. “Our struggle really resonates with a lot of people
around here – especially those who give us their business. These are people
we've built personal relationships with. So, to be able to deliver this win,
not only for us but for them as well, this is a huge milestone.”
Teamsters
Local 570 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout
Baltimore and the surrounding communities. For more information, go to https://www.team570.org/.
