Teamsters strike at Ascend Wellness cannabis facility in Barry
Published 2:59 pm Thursday, June 25, 2026
BARRY — Workers at a cannabis cultivation and processing facility in Barry walked off the job early Thursday morning, launching an Unfair Labor Practice Strike against Ascend Wellness Holdings after what their union describes as months of failed contract negotiations over wages, health care costs, and workplace fairness.
Members of Teamsters Local 916 began the strike at 2 a.m. Thursday at the Ascend facility in Barry, a Pike County community of roughly 1,300 residents. Ascend established its presence in Barry in 2018, leasing a 75,000-square-foot facility that became one of the company’s primary cannabis cultivation sites in Illinois. The company later expanded the Barry facility with a greenhouse addition, giving it tens of thousands of additional square feet of cannabis canopy at the location.
Ascend Wellness Holdings, which operates cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries across multiple states, runs 10 dispensaries in Illinois alone.
The union says workers have sought a contract providing fair wages and affordable health care but allege that Ascend has refused to meaningfully address their concerns and has engaged in conduct that prompted the filing of unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. An Unfair Labor Practice Strike, as distinct from a standard economic strike, is called specifically in response to alleged violations of federal labor law, a distinction that can affect workers’ legal protections during the action.
“Ascend’s employees generate millions of dollars in revenue for this company every week, yet many of the workers responsible for that success earn only around $18 per hour,” said JP Fyans, president of Teamsters Local 916. “At the same time, many workers are paying a majority of the cost of health insurance premiums, with some families paying more than $1,000 per month for coverage.”
Striking worker Shane Widmer said the action reflects broader frustrations. “The employees who cultivate, process, package, transport, and distribute Ascend’s products deserve to share in the success they create,” he said. “They deserve family-sustaining wages, affordable benefits, and an employer that respects their legal rights.”
Teamsters Local 916 said it remains willing to return to the bargaining table. Ascend Wellness did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Teamsters Local 916 represents more than 4,300 workers across Illinois in both the public and private sectors.
