Workers at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have voted to unionize under the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). The election, which took place from July 22 to August 19 during the parks’ busiest season, resulted in over 97% of staff at both locations voting in favor of joining the union. The new bargaining unit includes interpretive park rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters, and other staff.
The Federal Labor Relations Authority certified the results on Monday. With this decision, approximately 600 employees will now be represented by NFFE-IAM. The campaign was led by the IAM Union Organizing Department and NFFE-IAM field staff in collaboration with an internal organizing committee.
Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon now join other national parks such as Yellowstone, Cuyahoga Valley, Pictured Rocks, and Gulf Islands National Seashore where employees are also represented by NFFE-IAM. Many federal land management workers across agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are part of this union as well.
“I am honored to welcome the Interpretive Park Rangers, scientists, biologists, photographers, geographers, and so many other federal employees in essential roles at both Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon to our union,” said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. “By unionizing, hundreds of previously unrepresented employees have obtained a critical voice in their workplace and now have the power to make significant changes to benefit themselves and their colleagues.”
“It comes as no surprise workers in the National Park Service are overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing, as federal employees across the country have been faced with reductions in force, threats to workplace protections, and slashed agency budgets under this administration,” continued Erwin. “NFFE-IAM will be taking every step possible to increase both staffing and resources, and to defend employees from actions that threaten their rights and the incredible work they do stewarding our public lands. I look forward to working with the dedicated men and women who carry out the important mission of maintaining Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.”
