Workers Ratify Strong Contract with Improved Wages, Benefits, and Protections
More than 300 workers at Ascend Wellness’s grow house in Barry, Ill., ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 916 and ended a 30‑day unfair labor practice strike that was the largest in the legal cannabis industry’s history.
JP Fyans, President of Local 916, said the win belongs to the men and women who stood together and forced Ascend to deliver higher wages, lower health‑care costs, and protection against unjust discipline.
Teamsters at the facility handle every stage of production—from cultivation and processing to packaging and distribution—making them a key part of one of the nation’s largest multistate cannabis companies.
The new contract includes higher pay, reduced health‑care expenses, safeguards from arbitrary discipline, expanded paid‑time‑off policies, and a formal dispute‑resolution process.
Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, said the strike shows cannabis workers are building a powerful movement and sets a new standard for workers nationwide.
Kyle Bollinger, Vice President of Local 916, added that the 30‑day stand‑off demonstrated extraordinary courage and forced a fair agreement that respects workers who drive industry profits.
Cory Hill, an Ascend cultivator and union member, said the strike proved that refusing to give up leads to respect, job security, and the opportunities workers deserve.
Teamsters Local 916 represents more than 4,000 workers across Illinois, from Chicago to Champaign, and advocates for fair labor practices throughout the state.
For additional details, visit teamsters916.org.
Contact: Matt McQuaid, (771) 241‑0015, mmcquaid@teamster.org
