The 45-day strike by employees of the RISE store, owned by Green Thumb Industries (GTI), in York, Pennsylvania, came to an end in early October. The movement, considered the longest ever recorded in the United States cannabis industry, was organized by the Teamsters Local 776 union and resulted in a new collective agreement that includes wage increases, improvements in paid vacations, and new procedures for internal complaints.

According to MJ Biz Daily, workers stated that the company initially resisted negotiations but eventually gave in after weeks of shutdown and public demonstrations. RISE, one of the most well-known dispensary chains in the country, is owned by GTI, which operates in 15 U.S. states.

New strike in Ohio still ongoing

While the deadlock in York was resolved, another strike, now at the Vext Science (formerly Strawberry Fields) facility in Columbus, Ohio, has been ongoing since September 28. Workers claim inconsistent wages, unjustified dismissals, and favoritism by management. The movement is also supported by the Teamsters union, which has been expanding its presence in the cannabis sector in the US.

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If the shutdown in Ohio extends longer than the one in York, it could become the new longest strike in the history of the American cannabis industry.

Impacts on the sector

The legal cannabis industry in the United States generates about $32 billion annually and still faces challenges related to labor structure and tight profit margins. Analysts believe that the increase in strikes reflects the professionalization and the pursuit of better working conditions in a market that, although expanding, is still consolidating amid regulatory and economic tensions.

With information from MJ Biz Daily.