Workers At Montclair Medical Marijuana Dispensary Form Union

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The “budtenders” at a medical marijuana dispensary in Montclair have notched their first union contract, spokespeople announced last week.

Ascend Montclair Dispensary, formerly Greenleaf Compassion Center, was the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary to open in 2012. It’s currently owned by New York-based cannabis operator Ascend Wellness Holdings, which also operates dispensaries in other states. Ascend purchased the dispensary in late 2020.

Recently, a group of 22 employees who work at the Montclair facility formed a union and ratified their first work agreement. The bargaining unit – which consists of customer service representatives known as budtenders – marks the first time that employees of Ascend will be protected by a union contract, the Cannabis Engineers Extractors & Distributors (CEED) Local 420, International Union of Journeymen of Allied Trades (IUJAT) said.

According to a news release from the union, the three-year contract contains “critical wage and benefits enhancements” such as:

• “Three annual three percent wage increases and when compounded, are valued at 9.27% over the life of the contract”
• “Access to a more comprehensive healthcare plan that significantly decreases copays and deductibles, without an increase in overall costs”
• “A contract wage re-opener contingent on Ascend being awarded any future license for recreational cannabis operations”
• “Workers will earn more paid time-off based on a new seniority schedule”
• “Budtenders now have a say in their workplace conditions under the terms of their union contract. Ascend workers become just cause employees with access to a grievance procedure and regular contract negotiations.”

Patch has reached out to Ascend Wellness Holdings for comment. We'll update this article with any reply we receive.

Jeff Tabankin, a budtender and shop steward at the Ascend Montclair Dispensary, said that before they unionized, he and his peers were only considered “at-will” employees and had relatively few workplace protections.

“This labor contract and the union is providing us with critical workplace protections, annual raises, a far better health, and benefits plan for the first time,” Tabankin said. “The contract and representation will help us and our families afford the rising costs of doctor visits, hospital care, and prescriptions.

“We are proud CEED members and honored to join this green rush,” Tabankin said.

• See related article: NJ Hasn't Licensed Any Black Owners Since It Legalized Marijuana
• See related article: 5 Things You Need To Know About Marijuana Legalization In NJ

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