Budtenders at the MOCA dispensary owned by Ascend Wellness Holdings in Chicago’s River North neighborhood have voted to organize with Teamsters Local 777, a press release from the union announced last Friday.
“We are excited about the future and quality of life we can create for all cannabis workers,” said budtenders Jason Blumstein and Sydney Charles in the release.
Earlier this year Teamsters also attempted to organize MOCA’s other dispensary in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, but the vote was terminated after a petition for decertification was filed.
The Teamsters are competing with the Union of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) to organize cannabis workers in Illinois. And Teamsters leadership tossed a bit of shade at UFCW in their press release following their victory at MOCA.
“Workers are realizing that the Teamsters are the best union to ensure that the people who make these businesses succeed aren’t left out of the prosperity associated with this growth,” said Jim Glimco, President of Local 777.
