UFCW unionizes workers at Illinois cannabis retail store

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The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) scored another win in its mission to recruit more members in the marijuana industry when employees at a Sunnyside cannabis retail store in Champaign, Illinois, voted to ratify their first union contract.

Sunnyside is owned and operated by Chicago-based marijuana multistate operator Cresco Labs.

The 22 retail workers will be represented by Local 881 of the UFCW union, according to a news release.

This marks the third Local 881 union contract ratified by Illinois cannabis workers in the past two years.

According to the release, Local 881 negotiated a contract on the workers’ behalf that addressed many of their concerns, including:

  • Annual wage increases.
  • A ratification bonus.
  • Guaranteed paid time off.
  • A set employee product discount.
  • A grievance procedure related to disciplinary actions.

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As of the end of 2021, the UFCW represented roughly 10,000 workers in the legal U.S. marijuana sector.

Last year, the labor union won a series of unionization votes beyond Illinois, including California, MassachusettsNew Jersey and New York.