Pot workers ratify their collective agreement

Workers at Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary in downtown Evanston have approved a new contract that includes a pay raise, more paid time off and a clause requiring any potential buyer to include the union agreement as part of the contract. the agreement.

Teamsters Local 777 represents the 19 “cannabis advisors and agents” at Zen Leaf.

Local President Jim Glimco said in a statement that the contract, with a minimum wage increase of 14 percent over the three years of the agreement, “was successfully negotiated and ratified…in less than three months, this which is probably the fastest turnaround we have ever seen.” had for a first contract in this industry.

The Marijuana Daily website says this is at least the tenth Illinois dispensary run by the Teamsters.

Other unions also represent marijuana workers.

According to the website ilcannabisworkersunited.org, more than 10,000 dispensary workers nationwide are now unionized.

Zen Leaf is a subsidiary of a multi-state marijuana company called Verano Holdings.

But while Zen Leaf workers in Evanston are celebrating a first contract, food service workers at Northwestern University still haven’t signed one, after the existing agreement expired in August.

Earlier this month, about 100 members of UNITE HERE Local 1 staged an informational picket in front of NU, protesting the lack of a new contract with Compass Group, the contractor that operates actually catering services at NU.

Last week, apparently in response to the union protest, Compass Group released a statement saying the company had “proactively offered a second proposal” in hopes of reaching an agreement before the holiday season.

Compass said the proposal included an 18 percent pay increase over the life of the contract, additional paid time off and other benefits.

Food service workers start at $21.18 per hour.

Evanston Now reached out to UNITE HERE for reaction, but did not receive a response to the company’s point-by-point statement.

Local #1 represents approximately 500 Northwestern food service workers.

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