International Brotherhood of Teamsters Organizer Amber Angerer joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how she became a union organizer.
Angerer got a job in the legal cannabis industry, but quickly realized the job was not as glamorous as expected. At $14.50 an hour, the wages she earned were barely above minimum wage where she lived in California. Furthermore, the company frequently broke state labor laws regarding break times.
One day, Angerer encountered Teamster organizers outside her workplace, and she eventually began working with them to organize the employees. Once the workers filed for an election, the company came down hard on employees, holding captive audience meetings and offering raise incentives to discourage workers from organizing. Ultimately, the vote to organize failed, but the experience inspired Angerer to become a Teamster organizer and help workers organize across the country.
Angerer recently helped workers win a union election at Rise cannabis dispensary in Niles, Ill. owned by Green Thumb Industries. She also helped workers schedule a union election in May at another Rise dispensary in Joliet, Ill.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about Angerer’s story: