More than 600 federal employees at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park in California have voted to join the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). The workers, including park rangers, recreation specialists, firefighters, forestry workers, maintenance staff, and facility operation specialists, cast their ballots nearly unanimously in favor of union membership.
This move is part of a broader organizing effort by the IAM Organizing Department and NFFE-IAM. Jerry McCarty, IAM Assistant Organizing Coordinator, stated that existing master agreements with agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service provide immediate protections for new members. “Federal employees at Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks realized the only way to have a voice in this political climate was to form a union. The IAM has all the necessary resources to make it happen for them and other National Parks across the country,” McCarty said.
IAM Organizing Special Representative Art Jackson commented on the current challenges facing federal workers: “Federal workers are facing a changing landscape that the current administration designed to keep them guessing about their employment security. These National Park Service workers ensure that Americans can visit and enjoy these beautiful national treasures now and for centuries to come. They now stand tall and proud like the Sequoia trees they protect because they know life and work is better in a union.”
The National Park Service continues to deal with staffing shortages, leaving hundreds of positions unfilled. Hourly pay rates for some roles start at $17.60 per hour and go up to $21.47 for wage grade 5 positions. Many employees are required to work holidays, weekends, and mandatory overtime due to year-round operational needs.
IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge highlighted recent successes in union elections among federal workers: “We are having great success in union elections with federal workers right now because NFFE-IAM and the IAM Organizing Department understand the assignment. The IAM Organizing department has solid experience with Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) elections, and these workers need union representation without delay before some of the Trump administration’s job actions take effect without the workers’ input.”
IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett emphasized the value of professional representation: ”It just makes sense that they get professional representation from a union like no other, the IAM Union. We have a proven record of fighting for federal government civilian workers with NFFE-IAM, and new members choose us because we know the drill and get results.”
The IAM Organizing Department and NFFE-IAM plan to continue scheduling more representation elections with federal service workers across the country.
