Teamsters Local 777 members, employed at three dispensaries operated by Rise, a subsidiary of Green Thumb Industries (GTI), have officially ratified their inaugural collective bargaining agreements with the multi-state cannabis giant.
These contracts, now in force at two Joliet, Ill. locations and one in Niles, Ill., represent the conclusion of a prolonged struggle with GTI, the Teamsters said in a press release. The labor dispute culminated in a 13-day work stoppage that concluded in May, marking the lengthiest Unfair Labor Practice strike in U.S. cannabis retail history.
Jim Glimco, President of Local 777, remarked, “Let this serve as a lesson to cannabis companies not only in Illinois but across the nation – Teamsters do not yield. Many facing what these individuals endured might have thrown in the towel. Not this collective. They’re a spirited, resilient, sharp group who watch out for one another, epitomizing the essence of union membership.”
The agreements not only formalize various benefits but also introduce substantial enhancements. These encompass an 18 percent wage increase over the agreement’s lifespan, attendance incentives, a seniority-based scheduling policy, assured tips and discounts, heightened safety protocols, and safeguards against unjust termination or disciplinary actions.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my colleagues and myself for achieving this historic inaugural collective bargaining agreement,” said Reilly Drew, a Rise worker and bargaining committee member. “We began as a small yet united workforce and, over the past year and a half, have transformed into a robust union, positively reshaping our workplace and forging a brighter future for industry laborers.”