(CHICAGO) – PRESS RELEASE – Workers at five
Sunnyside Dispensaries—a subsidiary of multi-state cannabis operator Cresco—have reached tentative agreements for first union contracts with Teamsters
Local 777.
“Two years ago, we didn’t have
any cannabis workers under a collective bargaining agreement. Including these
agreements, we have more than 15 contracts throughout the industry. The
Teamsters are protecting and raising standards for workers in the cannabis
industry,” said Jim Glimco, Local 777 president. “I attribute this incredible
success to the dedication, bravery and brilliance of the workers in this
craft.”
The contracts at the
dispensaries in Elmwood Park, South Beloit, Schaumburg, Rockford, and Buffalo
Grove, Ill., contain significant improvements, including an end to at-will
employment and the right to representation during disciplinary matters,
scheduling based on seniority, a successorship clause in the event that the
dispensary is sold, paid meal and rest breaks, paid time off, paid holidays,
and 15% wage increases over the lifetime of the agreement.
“At this rate it won’t be long
before nearly every cannabis retailer throughout Illinois is covered under a
Teamsters contract, and we don’t plan on stopping there,” said Peter Finn,
Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Director of the
Teamsters Food Processing Division. “We’re fighting across the country to do
something for this industry that should’ve been done a long time ago—take
cannabis out of the black market and make it an industry full of good,
middle-class union jobs.”
Ratification votes will be
completed for all five locations by the end of next week.
Founded in 1937, Teamsters
Local 777 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout the
Chicago area. For more information, go to Teamsters777.org/.
