(BARRY, ILLINOIS) – More than 300 Workers at Ascend Wellness’s Grow House in Barry, Illinois have overwhelmingly ratified their first contract with Teamsters Local 916 and ended a 30-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike that was the largest in the history of the Legal Cannabis Industry.

“This victory belongs to the Men and Women at Ascend who stood together and refused to accept anything less than a fair contract,” Local 916 President J.P. Fyans said. “Our Members showed tremendous courage and determination throughout this fight. Their solidarity compelled Ascend to deliver on pay, benefit and protection of Union Rights.”

Teamsters at the Grow House are responsible for every stage of production, from cultivation and processing to packaging and distribution, for one of the largest multi-state Cannabis Companies.

The contract includes higher wages, lower health care costs, protection against unjust discipline, improved policies for paid time off, and a new process for settling disputes.

Jesse Case, who serves as Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, said: “Cannabis Workers are building a powerful movement across this industry. This Strike demonstrates what can be achieved when Workers stand together and fight back. This contract sets a new and improved standard for Cannabis Cultivation and Manufacturing Workers across the country.”

Teamsters Local 916 Vice President Kyle Bollinger said: “What our Members did on the Strike line was extraordinary. For thirty days, they stood shoulder to shoulder and their courage forced Ascend to bargain a fair contract. This Strike sends a clear message to Cannabis Companies that Workers who drive their profits deserve to be treated with respect.”

Cory Hill, an Ascend Cultivator and Member of Local 916, said: “We went on Strike because we knew the value of our work and we knew we deserved better. This contract proves that by refusing to give up, Workers can win the respect, job security and opportunities we deserve.”

Teamsters Local 916 represents more than 4,000 Workers throughout Illinois from Chicago to Carbondale and East Saint Louis to Champaign.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Ascend Wellness Teamsters Win Biggest Cannabis Strike in U.S. History - International Brotherhood of Teamsters