Ascend's downtown Springfield location is on the corner of East Adams and South Seventh streets.
Workers at a cannabis dispensary in downtown Springfield are seeking to unionize. They say bullying, a lack of paid sick time, limited hours and a lack of transparency regarding COVID-19 are reasons why.
Ascend Springfield employees at the downtown location (628 E. Adams St.) are organizing under the umbrella of the Local 881 chapter of The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) which includes employees of cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries.
In a "fact-sheet" provided by the union, complaints from employees include that there is no paid sick time and paid holidays were canceled days before Thanksgiving last year. There are also claims about a lack of clarity and transparency when it comes to COVID-19. Employees who tested positive for the virus have allegedly been prevented from communicating so with other staff. Management allegedly told staff not to "play the COVID card," according to the document.