The Evanston, Illinois, location of the Zen Leaf cannabis retail chain “voted overwhelmingly” to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 777.
Zen Leaf, a subsidiary of Chicago-based multistate operator Verano Holdings Corp., has 10 outlets in Illinois.
The chain’s Evanston location is the fourth Verano store in Illinois to unionize with the Teamsters’ Local 777, according to an Aug. 13 news release.
The Local 777 also announced that employees at the Zen Leaf outlet in Rogers Park, Illinois, voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first Teamsters contract.
According to the release, the contract for the Roger Park employees – they signed on with the Local 777 in December – includes:
- Wage increases of at least 18% over the lifetime of the agreement.
- More paid holidays and time off.
- Employer-funded 401(k) contributions.
- Protection against unjust terminations.
- A provision requiring any new owner of the Rogers Park store to honor the collective-bargaining agreement.
“Every victory leads to more victories – our momentum is unstoppable,” Jim Glimco, president of the Local 777, said in a statement.
Local 777 also has unionized at least six marijuana stores operating in Illinois under the Sunnyside brand name, which is owned by Chicago-based MSO Cresco Labs.
