INSA Massachusetts growers work without contract since October

Contract Expiration and Union Response

INSA's cultivation workers have been without a collective bargaining agreement for eight months, with negotiations stalled since the October 2025 expiration. UFCW Local 1445, which represents the growers, confirmed the contract lapse in a statement this week. The union didn't disclose the number of affected workers or specific sticking points in negotiations.

INSA operates vertically integrated cannabis operations in Massachusetts with cultivation facilities in Easthampton and retail locations across the state. The company hasn't issued a public statement on the contract status.

Pressure Campaign Tactics

The union is deploying public-facing tactics to force movement at the bargaining table. These include informational picketing and social media outreach. UFCW Local 1445 represents workers across grocery, retail, and cannabis sectors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, having organized several Massachusetts cannabis operators since adult-use sales launched in 2018.

Contract expirations without immediate renewal are common in union negotiations. But eight-month gaps? That signals deeper disagreements. Typical friction points in cannabis labor talks include:

• Wage scales tied to cultivation roles (trimmers, growers, post-harvest processors)
• Health and safety protocols for pesticide exposure and mold remediation
• Scheduling predictability in facilities running 24/7 grow cycles
• Job security during facility expansions or automation rollouts

Massachusetts Cannabis Labor Landscape

Massachusetts has the highest unionization rate among adult-use cannabis states, with at least 15 organized facilities across cultivation, processing, and retail. UFCW locals have led organizing drives at Theory Wellness, Curaleaf, and Trulieve operations statewide. The state's Cannabis Control Commission doesn't track union membership, but labor organizers estimate 8-12% of the state's cannabis workforce is represented.

INSA's Easthampton facility was among the first wave of union shops when UFCW Local 1445 won voluntary recognition in 2019. The current impasse marks the first public contract dispute at the site. For background on cannabis labor organizing in Massachusetts and nationwide, see the CannIntel topic hub on cannabis industry labor unions.

What Operators and Workers Watch Next

The timeline for resolution depends on whether INSA agrees to federal mediation or the union escalates to work actions. Massachusetts law allows public-sector strikes but doesn't prohibit private-sector labor actions. UFCW has historically avoided strikes in cannabis, favoring corporate campaigns and consumer-facing pressure.

INSA's retail operations remain unaffected. The cultivation workforce continues working under the expired contract's terms until a new agreement is ratified or the union declares an impasse. We'll be watching for any CCC filings related to operational disruptions or labor complaints, which would signal escalation beyond the bargaining table.