Teamsters Reach Agreement with Verano-Owned Chicago Dispensaries

Teamsters Local 777 has reached tentative agreements for cannabis consultants and agents-in-charge at Chicago’s Zen Leaf dispensaries. Zen Leaf is owned by multi-state cannabis company Verano, and it is the third MSO the union has successfully bargained agreements with after it launched its campaign to organize the cannabis industry less than three years ago. 

In a statement, Jim Glimco, president of Local 777, said the “contract includes monumental improvements that the workers on this committee fought incredibly hard to achieve.”  

“…It’s been a pleasure working alongside such a dynamic, energetic, brilliant, and tenacious group of trade unionists. If past is prologue, the future of the Chicago cannabis industry belongs to us.” — Glimco, in a press release 

The agreement includes wage increases ranging from 17% to 20% over the next three years, paid time off, employer-funded retirement contributions, overtime allocated by seniority, and the replacement of “at-will” employment with a just process for addressing disciplinary matters, the union said.  

Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International vice president and director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, called the contract “a guidebook on the various ways that MSOs can create a prosperous environment for their workforce, thereby incentivizing long-term careers in this business and reducing the loss of talent.” 

The Zen Leaf workers will vote on ratifying the contracts within the next two weeks.