Teamsters Are Not Backing Down, Fifth Day Of Unfair Labor Practice Strike At Three Cannabis Dispensaries

Teamsters Local 777 members at three Rise dispensaries a subsidiary of Green Thumb Industries Inc. GTBIF in Chicagoland walked off the job on April 19^th, at 4:20 p.m. CT to begin an open-ended unfair labor practice strike.

The strike was precipitated by the company demanding that workers at the Niles location remove pro-union buttons while they were on the job, a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

"The company's demand that the workers remove their pins is part of a broader pattern of disrespect to their workforce," stated Jim Glimco, Local 777 president. "GTI is refusing to offer these men and women wages commensurate with the cost of living, or retirement package that is acceptable for Teamsters. It's far past time this company recognize the people responsible for all of the success it's had."

Julie Evans, a patient care specialist at the Rise Rock Creek Boulevard dispensary in Joliet, stated: "The forceful removal of these buttons shows us how GTI feels about our movement, and how little they care about us as workers. I feel that it is extremely unfair, disrespectful, and rude that Niles was forced to remove their insignias while other stores were not. I stand with my fellow Teamsters in solidarity against this unfair labor practice."

According to Teamster’s Facebook page strike is still ongoing.

Recent Teamster Activity In The Cannabis Industry

• Teamsters unionized budtenders at Captain Jack's Dispensary in San Bernardino, California, in February.

• Teamsters won an unfair labor practice complaint filed against SNDL Inc. SNDL

• Teamsters unionized nearly 400 cannabis workers since Jan. 1st.

• Sunnyside Dispensary in Buffalo Grove, Ill. and more than 300 drivers and warehouse workers at cannabis delivery service Grassdoor joined Teamsters in January.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photos by Bits And Splits and Oleksandrum on Shutterstock