Garden Society employees have made history as the first cannabis workers in New Jersey to unionize under Teamsters Local 469.
The 40 newly unionized members cook and manufacture marijuana products, solidifying their place in a growing labor movement within the cannabis industry.
“Garden Society workers made their voices heard loud and clear that they want Local 469 to represent them in winning the strong contract they deserve,” said Michael Broderick, President of Local 469. “As a new and growing industry in New Jersey, it is vital that we fight to ensure that cannabis industry jobs are good careers with a fair wage, safe working conditions, quality health care benefits, and a pathway to retiring with dignity. Garden Society workers — and all cannabis workers in New Jersey — deserve nothing less.”
This significant milestone is part of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ broader initiative to organize cannabis workers nationwide. Since launching the campaign three years ago, the union has successfully secured over 30 collective bargaining agreements for employees in the marijuana sector. The victory at Garden Society highlights the union’s focus on expanding its reach within cannabis manufacturing and cultivation, which has experienced rapid growth in New Jersey following the legalization of recreational marijuana sales.
Jesse Case, Director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, emphasized the importance of unionization in the evolving cannabis industry. “Cannabis is a nascent and unpredictable field, and by creating a level of stability in the craft that only comes with a Teamsters contract, our union is creating the best pathway possible for prosperous careers in the industry,” he said.
Workers at Garden Society echoed this sentiment, with employee Beverly Hayes expressing optimism about the union’s impact. “I’m excited for what the future holds now that we have a union,” said Hayes. “We’re on our way to getting what we deserve!”
Teamsters Local 469 represents over 4,000 workers across Northern New Jersey. This latest development marks a step forward in ensuring that marijuana industry employees have access to fair wages, benefits, and job security as the market continues to expand.
