Workers at PharmaCann, a major cannabis company in the U.S., have taken a significant step by joining Teamsters Local 337 in Michigan. Todd Lince, president of Local 337, expressed enthusiasm about the growing involvement of the cannabis industry in the labor movement and the importance of ensuring workers receive the compensation and benefits they deserve. This decision by the workers at PharmaCann's facility in Michigan is seen as a pivotal move towards establishing better working conditions within the cannabis sector.
The 59 new members of Local 337 from PharmaCann are tasked with handling logistics, distribution, and manufacturing of the company's products. While the Teamsters already represented the company's retail staff in Illinois, this unionization marks the company's first production facility to join the union, as well as being the first cannabis operation in the Detroit metro area to affiliate with the Teamsters. The union's involvement is expected to bring about improvements in wages, job security, and scheduling fairness for the workers. As Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters food processing division, highlighted, the benefits enjoyed by Pharmacann members in Illinois, such as pay increases and protection against unfair termination, will be demanded during negotiations with the cannabis workers in Warren.
Amberlin Stark, a cultivation technician at PharmaCann and a new Teamster member, emphasized the disparity in wage increases compared to rising corporate profits, underscoring the need for fair compensation. This move towards unionization is seen as a corrective measure to address the wage stagnation experienced by workers despite the industry's growth and profitability. The involvement of Teamsters Local 337 in PharmaCann's Warren facility is expected to set a precedent for improved working conditions within the cannabis industry and establish a pathway for fair compensation and benefits for the workers.