By a vote of 37-13 on Thursday, employees of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden voted to form a union and collectively bargain.

It becomes the second botanical garden to unionize, joining Portland's Japanese Garden.

The Ginter employees will be represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM, which also represents TrueTimber tree care company locally.

Children's garden educator Michelle Bayliss said she believes employees grew closer throughout the process of unionizing.

"We all just came together in a common cause, basically, and it was extremely wonderful just to feel that support from everyone," she said.

Bridget Fitzgerald, an organizer with IAM who assisted the Ginter employees, said the next steps will be to survey all employees on which improvements they would like to see during bargaining, and then elect a committee to negotiate on the group's behalf.

The union will represent all employees, regardless of how they voted.

Bayliss described the vote count as a "moment of solidarity" for the garden's workers.

"There were a lot of similar issues just about not always feeling heard or not always feeling listened to," she said. "Even though the specifics of those may differ between people, because we're all different people here at the garden."

She said more important than any changes that take place is the feeling that workers will be listened to. Bayliss added that she expects to compromise, but is excited that she and other workers will have a seat at the table to be heard.

A Lewis Ginter spokesperson offered the following comment by email:

"Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has long been pro-employee and we have enjoyed working with staff individually and personally. We hope that the IAM Union will keep both employees needs and concerns, and the mission of our Garden at the center of negotiations as we progress towards a mutually beneficial contract. We are committed to an outcome that benefits employees while ensuring our organization remains a treasured community resource for our volunteers, guests, members, patrons and community partners."

Original story:

The workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden filed for union representation last month amid employee-voiced workplace concerns, which range from lack of equipment to safety policies. That vote will take place Thursday afternoon.

The garden, which spans over 82 acres in Henrico County, has won national accolades as a destination. The Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights was ranked first in USA Today’s top 10 botanical garden light show list last year.

The garden employs about 60 workers eligible to unionize, but also relies on an extensive volunteer network. Employees from multiple departments at the botanical garden, including horticulture, education and operations, expressed concern their voices and suggestions were not being heard by management.

The Times-Dispatch reported that starting pay at the garden is $15 per hour. A WRIC report quoted an employee who said they are required to purchase their own safety gear, including boots and gloves.

Representatives from Lewis Ginter management declined to answer questions, but referred to an official statement.

The statement said: “We cannot comment on the union's petition at this time out of respect for the rights of everyone involved and the legal process. 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.”

Finding the right organizer

The workers, under the group name LGBG Workers United, officially began the process of unionization with the National Labor Relations Board in October, according to their Instagram page.

Lewis Ginter employees initiated a relationship with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, or IAM. The association was founded in 1888 and historically represented machinists. Since then, it has expanded to include other professions such as architects, library workers and yoga instructors, according to Bridget Fitzgerald, an IAM union organizer.

Lewis Ginter would be the only garden it represents, but not the only garden to unionize. Portland Japanese Garden employees in Oregon unionized earlier this year.

Lewis Ginter employees reached out to other unions over the summer, but did not receive any responses until IAM, according to Fitzgerald.

“There isn’t a union for every single profession,” Fitzgerald said. “And as I said, we have looked for opportunities to help workers where we can and when we can.”

Fitzgerald thought that it made sense for IAM to potentially represent workers from the garden, partially because one of the oldest local IAM lodges is based in Richmond.

Staff must show that at least 30% of its workforce is interested to begin union proceedings, according to the labor board. This is usually determined by a petition or authorization cards. A secret-ballot election is then held by the workers to officially call for union representation, requiring a simple majority to pass.

The garden workers plan to hold their election on Nov. 21. If successful, the union representatives elected by the workers and the company management would be legally bound to negotiate employment terms in good faith.

Garden employees say they want a voice

Collective bargaining negotiations often tackle wage adjustments, overtime benefits and improvements to working conditions.

The efforts to unionize have bolstered employee morale and caused increasing camaraderie among the different departments, according to Eryn Boyle, who has worked at the garden for just over a year.

“I personally feel a lot more empowered, because for a while I was feeling very hopeless and stuck,” Boyle said. “The people feel like they’re making a difference and want to stay here, and want to make things better and see it through.”

Five employees spoken to expressed a great love for their jobs and a desire to see the garden succeed and grow.

"I love my job, and it's what I've studied and what I want to do with my life," said Clare Reines, a horticulturist at Lewis Ginter. "I love working at the botanical garden because I can combine art with plants."

Some garden workers were unsure about joining a union.

The group spearheading the push believes unionization is the best thing for employees, including management. They said it will allow them more of a voice when future decisions are made.

Garden management response

The initial email response from the garden’s management stated that a union representative could come between managers and the workers, according to Boyle.

According to Fitzgerald, the garden has hired a union-dissuading agency in an attempt to dissuade workers from voting in favor of the union. Fitzgerald pointed out the contrast between a company which says it cannot pay its workers more, but then hires potentially expensive anti-union representation.

Lewis Ginter management did not respond to a follow up email about the firm it hired.

“It’s [employee] labor that makes this place the very tranquil environment that it is,” Fitzgerald said. “They’ve got ideas, they’ve got suggestions.”

Fitzgerald encouraged members of the Richmond community who support worker efforts to voice their support while continuing to enjoy the attractions of the garden.

Union growth increases statewide

Arborists at TrueTimber, a tree care company based in Richmond, voted to join IAM this summer. Their vote to unionize passed despite efforts by management to prevent it. The company hired a union-busting firm after pulling the plug on a promise to pass ownership to the employees, according to IAM.

Union membership in Virginia increased from 3.7% to 4.3% between 2022 and 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median union wages were 15% higher than nonunion wages, according to data from the same report. National union membership numbers showed little change over that time frame.

Noah Dalbey, another Lewis Ginter worker in the operations department, said unionization isn’t the extreme change some believe it to be.

“The way the consultants are framing it is they’re kind of trying to make it seem like we’re trying to go for some big radical change that is going to change everything at the garden,” Dalbey said. “All we want is a chance to have a say … to change our workplace.”