Ascend Wellness Workers Ratify Contract Ending U.S. Cannabis Strike
Over 300 Ascend Wellness workers in Barry, Illinois, have ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 916, ending a 30-day strike.
More than 300 workers at Ascend Wellness's grow facility in Barry, Illinois, have overwhelmingly ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 916. The agreement marks the end of a 30-day strike and secures improved wages, benefits, and worker protections.
The contract ratification follows a month-long labor dispute that involved over 300 employees. Union representatives stated the agreement provides wage increases and improved benefits comparable to those in the public utility sector. Enhancements to worker protections were also a key outcome of the negotiations.
This resolution is considered the largest strike in the U.S. cannabis industry to date. Ascend Wellness operates cultivation and retail facilities across multiple states, and the outcome may set a precedent for labor relations in the expanding cannabis sector.
The agreement addresses the workers' initial demands, which were prompted by alleged unfair labor practices. The end of the strike signals a move towards resolving the labor conflict at the Barry facility.