Workers at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have chosen to unionize under the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). The decision follows an election held from July 22 to August 19, a period when staffing levels are highest due to the summer season. Both permanent and seasonal employees were able to participate in the vote.
According to NFFE-IAM, more than 97% of participating workers at both parks voted in favor of joining the union. The Federal Labor Relations Authority certified the election results on Monday, officially adding about 600 staff members—including Interpretive Park Rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters, and others—to the union’s membership.
This move brings Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon staff into a broader group of park service employees represented by NFFE-IAM. Other national parks with organized workforces under NFFE-IAM include Yellowstone, Cuyahoga Valley, Pictured Rocks, Gulf Islands National Seashore, as well as federal land management employees across agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
“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.”
