Dozens of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden employees push to unionize
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Employees at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico County are taking a stand for better pay, improved safety and fairer working conditions by pushing to form a union. Dozens of workers who have raised concerns about wages and safety for months are now joining forces with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to negotiate directly with management. According to Clara Aus, who has worked at the garden for nearly three years in various roles, despite repeatedly raising concerns with management, she and her colleagues felt their voices were not being heard. "We love this space, we love the garden so much, and we just want what's best for it," Aus said. However, she and others are frustrated by the lack of action on issues such as low wages, with some employees earning less than $15 an hour, which Aus says is below a living wage. In addition to fair compensation, workers are also pushing for improved safety measures. Many of the garden's horticulture staff work outdoors, often using heavy equipment and machinery. Currently, employees are required to purchase their own safety gear, including boots and gloves, which they argue is an additional financial burden. "We have a lot of horticulture staff who work outside and use different equipment and machinery, so I think safety is huge for them," Aus said. The push for union representation is not just about securing better pay, but also gaining a "seat at the table," according to Aus. "Just to be able to have that voice to negotiate is the main thing we're looking for," she said. With the support of the IAM union, employees hope to negotiate directly with management to address these concerns and advocate for fairer working conditions. In response to the unionization efforts, the garden, which is a non-profit organization, declined to comment directly on the petition. However, in a statement, the organization expressed its commitment to employee well-being: What we can convey is that Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden values employees for their individual talents and skills. We are pro-employee and work with staff individually and personally. That is why the majority of our operating budget is dedicated to employees in the form of increased funding for professional development, increased benefits and raises each of the last four years ranging from 3-7%. As an independent, non-profit organization that is wholly dependent on donors and operational revenue, the work of the Garden staff is unique and essential to maintaining a destination that is open to the public throughout the year. Mary Heather Parch, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Chief Marketing Officer Despite the garden's claims of increased benefits and raises, union organizers argue that these efforts have not gone far enough to address the growing concerns of staff whose efforts make the garden such a popular attraction. "[Lewis Ginter] is so beautiful all the time because of all the work that people put in, the individuals that work at the garden that put in the time to make it look beautiful — to help with the flowers, help with the garden lights for Gardenfest," Aus said. "Every little thing that happens there is because of the people that work there." A vote on whether to unionize will take place on Nov. 21. The vote’s outcome will be certified a week later by the National Labor Relations Board, which will oversee the process. If the vote passes, workers will then begin outlining their specific demands, with negotiations with management to follow.
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HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Employees at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico County are taking a stand for better pay, improved safety and fairer working conditions by pushing to form a union.
Dozens of workers who have raised concerns about wages and safety for months are now joining forces with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to negotiate directly with management.
According to Clara Aus, who has worked at the garden for nearly three years in various roles, despite repeatedly raising concerns with management, she and her colleagues felt their voices were not being heard.
"We love this space, we love the garden so much, and we just want what's best for it," Aus said.
However, she and others are frustrated by the lack of action on issues such as low wages, with some employees earning less than $15 an hour, which Aus says is below a living wage.
In addition to fair compensation, workers are also pushing for improved safety measures. Many of the garden's horticulture staff work outdoors, often using heavy equipment and machinery.
Currently, employees are required to purchase their own safety gear, including boots and gloves, which they argue is an additional financial burden.
"We have a lot of horticulture staff who work outside and use different equipment and machinery, so I think safety is huge for them," Aus said.
The push for union representation is not just about securing better pay, but also gaining a "seat at the table," according to Aus.
"Just to be able to have that voice to negotiate is the main thing we're looking for," she said.
With the support of the IAM union, employees hope to negotiate directly with management to address these concerns and advocate for fairer working conditions.
In response to the unionization efforts, the garden, which is a non-profit organization, declined to comment directly on the petition. However, in a statement, the organization expressed its commitment to employee well-being:
What we can convey is that Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden values employees for their individual talents and skills. We are pro-employee and work with staff individually and personally. That is why the majority of our operating budget is dedicated to employees in the form of increased funding for professional development, increased benefits and raises each of the last four years ranging from 3-7%. As an independent, non-profit organization that is wholly dependent on donors and operational revenue, the work of the Garden staff is unique and essential to maintaining a destination that is open to the public throughout the year. Mary Heather Parch, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Chief Marketing Officer
Despite the garden's claims of increased benefits and raises, union organizers argue that these efforts have not gone far enough to address the growing concerns of staff whose efforts make the garden such a popular attraction.
"[Lewis Ginter] is so beautiful all the time because of all the work that people put in, the individuals that work at the garden that put in the time to make it look beautiful — to help with the flowers, help with the garden lights for Gardenfest," Aus said. "Every little thing that happens there is because of the people that work there."
A vote on whether to unionize will take place on Nov. 21. The vote’s outcome will be certified a week later by the National Labor Relations Board, which will oversee the process.
If the vote passes, workers will then begin outlining their specific demands, with negotiations with management to follow.
