Employees at Norfolk Botanical Garden have voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union. The election, held on July 23, resulted in a 43-23 vote in favor of union representation by IAM Local 10. This decision follows several months of organizing led by Bridget Fitzgerald, IAM Southern Assistant Organizing Coordinator.
The move to unionize was influenced by a similar effort at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in November 2024. After observing the outcome there, workers at Norfolk Botanical Garden contacted Fitzgerald in early 2025 and began collecting authorization cards for a union election in May.
“The Lewis Ginter drive garnered a lot of attention,” said Fitzgerald. “They had a social media presence that the Norfolk Botanical Garden workers followed and reached out to talk to those workers, had a couple different conversations about their issues and what made them decide to unionize. Norfolk workers decided that they wanted to travel that same path.”
IAM Union has focused on organizing within the non-profit sector, aiming to give more power to employees who serve the public interest through their work at places like botanical gardens.
Workers cited collective bargaining as a way to address wages below local living standards, improve transparency and decision-making, and gain a stronger voice in workplace operations.
“Most of them, the first thing they mention is needing better pay, but then they say that what they really want is a voice,” Fitzgerald said. “The lack of transparency, the inconsistency, and no reliable policy on inclement weather – for this type of work that’s unacceptable.”
The campaign received significant public support with nearly 450 people signing a community petition and endorsements from State Senator Angelia Williams Graves and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott.
Despite efforts by management—including hiring an anti-union consultant—to discourage unionization, employees remained committed.
“Workers countered every lie and piece of misinformation,” Fitzgerald said. “Nothing the employer did with anti‑union persuasion was going to change their mind.”
With certification complete, preparations are underway for contract negotiations. IAM Local 10 and District 2020 Directing Business Representative Charles Mann will assist employees in conducting a bargaining survey, electing a negotiating committee, and drafting proposals ahead of formal talks.
Norfolk IAM members plan to seek improvements in wages, an established inclement-weather policy, clearer attendance rules, and greater input into future planning—aiming for sustainable working conditions that match their commitment.
“We are empowering workers in every industry,” said IAM Organizing Assistant Director Juan Eldridge. “Nonprofit workers are workers nonetheless. They give everything to their job, they are professionals and experts in what they do, and they need to be valued for that expertise and dedication.”
While nonprofit organizations often operate with limited resources, Norfolk Botanical Garden staff hope collective bargaining will help secure fair treatment without harming the institution’s mission.
“They love the work,” Fitzgerald said. “They want to make it a career, not just a job for a few years.”
