Employees at an Oakland, California medical marijuana cooperative have voted on their first-ever contract to be represented by Teamsters Local 70. The employees are part of Marjyn Investments in Oakland, which provides labor for multiple cooperatives in the area. Most of the workers are in the growing and manufacturing areas of medical marijuana (trimmers, gardeners, cloners).

Several of the employees approached Teamsters Local 70 to organize and the union quickly got to work recruiting more MMJ workers and then negotiating a contract with Marjyn. The union says that Marjyn was quick to recognize the union and that this facilitated a fast agreement process.

The two year contract requires Marjyn to pay for health care costs of its employees, will participate in the Western Conference of Pensions Fund, and wages will increase by about $7/hour over the next 15 months (from $18 to $25.75). Paid holidays and personal time were also negotiated.

“The company expects to expand and hopes to have about 150 employees,” Marchetti said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever organize medical marijuana providers, but this is an expanding industry in California.” “We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with the Teamster workers, providing well-paid jobs with benefits and a safe work environment,” said R. Dean Jackson, a Marjyn representative.

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