Workers at Chicago-based dispensary Dispensary 33 have officially ratified their first union contract with Teamsters Local 777, marking another milestone for organized labor within the Illinois cannabis industry.
After roughly five months of negotiations, employees unanimously approved a five-year agreement that secures wage increases, improved healthcare benefits, and new workplace protections for staff.
According to Jim Glimco, president of Local 777, the agreement is designed to recognize the essential role dispensary workers play in the success of cannabis retail operations.
“This contract recognizes the vital roles these workers play in the success of this business, and it ensures they are treated with the respect they deserve,” Glimco said. “We’re proud to bring more stability to Dispensary 33 by securing higher wages, improved health care benefits, and strong job protections against unjust discipline or termination.”
A Rapid Unionization Effort
The contract comes less than a year after Dispensary 33 budtenders voted overwhelmingly to unionize under Teamsters representation. Since then, negotiations between management and union representatives focused on wages, healthcare coverage, and disciplinary protections.
Over the past several years, Local 777 has steadily expanded its presence in the Illinois cannabis market, helping organize and negotiate contracts for hundreds of workers across cultivation, production, and retail operations.
Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, said the agreement reflects a broader trend of cannabis employees seeking more stable career paths within the industry.
“Cannabis workers across the country are organizing to win better wages, stronger benefits, and real career opportunities,” Case said. “Our members at Dispensary 33 are proving what’s possible when workers stand together and demand a fair contract.”
Workers Celebrate the Outcome
For many employees involved in the organizing effort, the ratification represents both a professional and personal victory after months of negotiations.
Lyzette Soto, a budtender and union member who has earned industry recognition for her work, described the process as challenging but ultimately rewarding.
“This was honestly one of the hardest and most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever gone through,” Soto said. “We are passionate and proud of the community we’ve created to guarantee better conditions in our workplace.”
A Growing Trend in Cannabis Labor
Unionization has become increasingly common across the cannabis sector as the industry matures. Workers in dispensaries, cultivation facilities, and manufacturing operations have pushed for contracts that address pay stability, benefits, and workplace protections.
With the ratification of this five-year agreement, Dispensary 33 joins a growing list of unionized cannabis workplaces in Illinois. For employees, the contract represents more than just improved compensation, it signals continued momentum toward establishing cannabis jobs as long-term, sustainable careers.
Information and quotes in this article were sourced from a press release distributed via PR Newswire.
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