Workers at Local 776 in York, Pennsylvania, are on an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike against RISE Dispensary, a subsidiary of Green Thumb Industries (GTI), due to allegations of bargaining in bad faith. The strike was initiated after union members unanimously rejected the company's final offer. The workers are demanding fair wages, dignity, and respect in the workplace.
According to Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, the strike sends a clear message that it will continue until GTI negotiates in good faith and provides the contract the workers deserve. He highlighted that RISE employees witness the substantial revenue generated by the company, yet are expected to settle for less than what their colleagues at other locations earn, a situation the union refuses to accept.
RISE employees in York are insisting on wage parity with workers at other RISE dispensaries. Despite GTI accumulating over a billion dollars in revenue last year and being the second-largest publicly traded cannabis company globally, workers feel undervalued.
John Stambaugh, a Local 776 member at RISE Dispensary, stated that the strike is not solely about their immediate demands but rather about demonstrating that even a small group of dedicated workers can stand up to a large corporation when they feel unjustly treated. They are seeking a contract that acknowledges their worth and ensures they are not viewed as disposable components of the company's billion-dollar enterprise.
This strike at RISE Dispensary in York marks the second occurrence of such action by GTI Teamsters in less than three years.
For more information:
International Brotherhood of Teamsters 
teamster.org/
