New Contract Approved for Union Workers at New Jersey’s The Botanist Cannabis Facilities
- Workers at The Botanist’s marijuana dispensaries in Egg Harbor Township and Collingswood ratified a new three-year union contract with UFCW Local 152, including wage increases, bonuses, and expanded paid time off.
- The contract provides an across-the-board wage increase with guaranteed annual raises, and a ratification bonus for employees with at least 90 days of service.
- The agreement maintains union healthcare benefits and adds extra floating holidays, with additional time off eligibility for workers with five or more years of continuous service starting in 2027.
- New provisions allow shop stewards to hold new member orientations and enable workers to opt into the UFCW Active Ballot Club, reflecting growing union involvement in New Jersey’s marijuana industry.
Workers represented by UFCW Local 152 at The Botanist’s marijuana dispensaries and cultivation sites in Egg Harbor Township and Collingswood have ratified a new three-year union contract that includes wage increases, bonuses and expanded paid time off.
The agreement was approved on February 26 and covers workers at the company’s New Jersey operations. According to UFCW Local 152, the contract includes a substantial across-the-board wage increase for all members, along with guaranteed annual raises throughout the life of the agreement. Workers with at least 90 days of service will also receive a ratification bonus.
The contract keeps union health care in place, while also adding new benefits tied to time off. Under the deal, every worker at The Botanist will receive an additional floating holiday. Workers with at least five years of continuous service will become eligible for another floating holiday starting in January 2027.
The agreement also allows senior workers to carry over more earned paid time off than before, giving longer-serving employees added flexibility with their leave.
In addition to pay and benefits, the contract includes provisions tied to union organizing and worker participation. Shop stewards and union representatives will be allowed to hold new member orientations, giving new hires a formal introduction to UFCW Local 152 and the union’s role in the workplace.
The contract also includes language allowing workers to voluntarily opt into the UFCW Active Ballot Club.
The ratified agreement marks the latest labor development in New Jersey’s marijuana industry, where union representation has continued to play a growing role as the legal market expands.