Workers at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have voted to join the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) as their union representative. The election, which took place from July 22 to August 19 during the parks’ busiest season, resulted in more than 97% of staff at both locations voting in favor of unionization. The Federal Labor Relations Authority certified the results on Monday, officially adding about 600 employees—including interpretive park rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, and firefighters—to the union.
This move aligns Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon with other national parks whose workers are represented by NFFE-IAM. Employees at Yellowstone, Cuyahoga Valley, Pictured Rocks, Gulf Islands National Seashore, as well as federal land management staff within the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are already part of this organization.
“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.”
