Union workers at a York County medical marijuana dispensary have gone on strike.
Those workers, eight in all, went on strike Aug. 25 at the Rise Medical Marijuana Dispensary, located in the 2000 block of White Street in West Manchester Township.
“The company gave us a last, best and final offer on June 12, which was unanimously rejected by the members here,” said Mark Cicak, recording secretary and business agent for Teamsters Local 776, which represents the workers. Along with that rejection, the workers gave authorization to strike, Cicak said.
Despite the workers being on strike, the dispensary remains open, Cicak said, run by management.
“The company refused to move off their last best and final,” Cicak said. “We met last week. They didn’t bargain in good faith, and that’s why we are out here today.”
The York County Rise employees opened a case with the National Labor Relations Board against Green Thumb Industries, Rise Dispensary’s owner, for allegedly bargaining in bad faith.
In a statement from Green Thumb Industries, the company said since the York County workers joined the Teamsters in July 2024, Green Thumb has worked in good faith with union representatives toward a mutually beneficial agreement.
“The company’s last, best, and final offer included meaningful wage increases and comprehensive benefits,” a Green Thumb spokesperson stated. “Green Thumb conducted a market analysis to ensure the offer is fair and competitive based on job responsibilities and market conditions within Pennsylvania’s cannabis retail industry.”
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Cicak disagreed that the company has bargained in good faith.
“Instead of changing their last, best and final, they held onto it, came to the table and didn’t want to move,” Cicak said.
The company’s offer is a 3% raise across the board over the next three years, Cicak said.
“Our top guy has been here for five years, and he makes $17.65, which would be a (pay raise) of 53 cents an hour,” Cicak said. “Our low guy is at $16, that would 48 cents an hour.”
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The York County workers are looking for something similar to what Teamsters members at a Rise Dispensary in Chicago are getting, which is $18 an hour, Cicak said.
“And that’s what we were asking for, just to get what the other union contract has,” Cicak said. “The company has adamantly refused.”
Cicak said the employees believe what they are asking for is fair considering that Green Thumb Industries brought in $1.1 billion in total revenue last year.
The dispute highlights ongoing issues within the rapidly growing and highly profitable cannabis industry, which often sees frontline workers struggling while corporate profits soar.
“And they keep telling us we don’t have anything else,” Cicak said.
The strike will continue until the company contacts him, rescinds its last offer and is willing to go back the negotiating table, he said.
The company said it respects the union members’ right to strike in disagreement with the proposal.
“Green Thumb respects team members’ rights to engage in protected activity, including the right to strike,” a company spokesperson stated. “We hope the union will realize the value this contract provides and support team members in moving forward together. “