Employees of manufacturing company Garden Society are the first cannabis workers in New Jersey to join Teamsters Local 469.
The 40 newest members, who “overwhelmingly” voted to join the union, cook and manufacture cannabis products, according to a news release.
“Garden Society workers made their voices heard loud and clear that they want Local 469 to represent them in winning the strong contract they deserve,” Local 469 President Michael Broderick said in a statement.
“As a new and growing industry in New Jersey, it is vital that we fight to ensure that the cannabis industry jobs are good careers with a fair wage, safe working conditions, quality healthcare benefits and a pathway to retiring with dignity.”
The union has won more than 30 collective bargaining agreements for cannabis workers since launching its effort to organize the industry three years ago, the release noted.
“Cannabis is a nascent and unpredictable field, and … our union is creating the best pathway possible for prosperous careers in the industry,” said Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division.
Teamsters Local 469 represents more than 4,000 workers in northern New Jersey.
