Zen Leaf Dispensary Workers are the latest to join Local 881’s growing cannabis union! Highland Park, IL – Today workers at Zen Leaf/Verano cannabis dispensary in Highland Park celebrated the certification of their recent Union representation election by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and will join Local 881 of

UFCW- Cannabis workers at the Curaleaf dispensary in Skokie, Ill., recently joined UFCW Local 881 for the better wages and benefits that come with a union contract. Curaleaf Skokie is the third Curaleaf dispensary to join UFCW Local 881. Curaleaf, one of the largest multi-state cannabis companies, currently operates 10

UFCW – On Nov. 2, cannabis workers at the Curaleaf dispensary in Mokena, Ill., joined UFCW Local 881 for a better life. These new members of our union family voted to join UFCW Local 881 by an overwhelming margin because they were concerned about insufficient wages and benefits.  Curaleaf is

GROWNIN – Workers at a second Curaleaf dispensary in Illinois voted to unionize last week and two more are preparing to hold votes before 2021 is over. According to union representatives, the 35 eligible employees of Curaleaf’s dispensary (branded as “Windy City Cannabis” until recently) in suburban Worth, Ill. voted

Worth, IL – On October 20, 2021 cannabis workers at the Curaleaf dispensary in Worth won their Union representation election and will join Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Union for Cannabis Workers in Illinois. Curaleaf, one of the largest multi-state cannabis companies, currently operates 10

WCIA- The marijuana industry is rapidly growing in Illinois. Now, workers at Sunnyside Dispensary in Champaign are organizing a union to demand better opportunities.

Chicago Tribune- Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois set another record in May with more than $116 million of weed sold. That tops last month’s record by $1.4 million, and is up 163% from May 2020.

KSDK- Four dispensaries in Illinois have agreed to unionize, and workers at one in Sauget will soon decide if they want to join the ranks

PATCH- Illinoisans spent $110 million on marijuana in the month of March alone

CHICAGO SUNTIMES: The mail-in ballots — counted over Zoom on the unofficial smoker’s holiday of 4/20 — were overwhelmingly in favor of joining Local 881 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents employees in Illinois’ booming pot industry, the union said in a statement.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE– The Lincoln Park dispensary the second in the state to unionize as the nascent weed industry takes root in Illinois.

POLITICO– Illinois is the fastest growing market in the country

CRAIN’S CHICAGO- For the first time in a generation, Chicago is the early leader in a fast-growing new industry that’s generating jobs and wealth.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE– Seeking higher pay, career advancement and better protection from the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis workers from Chicago to Springfield have begun to unionize, planting a seed that could reshape the fast-growing marijuana labor landscape.

ABC CHANNEL 20– “What we specifically are fighting for is safer working conditions, a more consistent schedule, and transparent communication from up top,” Ascend employee Andrew Feeney said.

JACOBIN MAGAZINE– Workers at Windy City Cannabis allege that lack of adequate compensation and protection in such a lucrative industry, amid a pandemic, led them to organize with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881.

CHICAGO SUNTIMES- “Nearly everyone working right now feels they’re being subjected unnecessarily to unsafe and unsanitary conditions,”

PATCH- ‘I Am Excited’

PATCH– Employees at Joliet’s Cresco Labs on Centerpoint Way are now getting paid more, have a higher company 401K match and lower health insurance rates as a result of approving their first-ever cannabis union contract

CHICAGO SUNTIMES- Employees at a Lake View pot shop became the first workers at an Illinois dispensary to unionize in the state

CHICAGO SUNTIMES- First group of cannabis workers vote to form a union with LOCAL 881 UFCW

Rollingstone- The United Food and Commercial Workers union is now a major force in marijuana politics