‘Scared’ and angry: Here’s why workers unionized at Yosemite, Sequoia national parks

For two years, labor organizers have tried to unite employees in three prestigious California National Parks, but they are unable to reach the critical mass.

Then in February, a mass shooting of the National Park Service employees under the Trump administration. Many employees Recoveredbut the litigation Legality of dismissalS surrounds. The park service department has About a quarter of the staff have been lost Since Trump regained the White House, this is Suggested $100 million Cut budget To the institution.

This summer, the scales tilted. More than 97% of employees in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, they vote Vote for the unionobtained results certification last week. Now, the National Federation of Federal Employees represents more than 600 employees, including interpretive park rangers, biologists, firefighters and consignees.

“Cultural is hard to change,” said Steven Gutierrez, a business representative of the Alliance. “Things like this need to be like this administration fired people to wake people up, ‘Hey, I’m very vulnerable here, I need to invest in my career.’”

Union workers work in some of California’s most famous and popular national parks. Yosemite is known for its awesome valleys, while Sequoia and Kings Canyon are known for Giant Sequoia Tree.

In beauty is a labor force of depression and fear. Two employees at Yosemite National Park have described the morale at the bottom of the rock in recent turmoil and believe unions can provide avenues for change. Both are union representatives and demand anonymity because they fear revenge.

“With this government, I think there are still many people who are afraid of, and I think unions will definitely help the protection we really want,” one employee said.

Home Secretary Doug Burgum despite staff exhausted from acquisitions and recruitment freezes Already ordered the park Stay “open and accessible”. As a result, the staff said visitors may not notice anything.

“There are a lot of people doing multiple jobs just trying to support the park,” she said. She believes that the alliance will help ensure that people are paid appropriately for the work they do and that responsibilities do not change.

Employees stressed that many of the workplace problems they want to see, including low-paying and dirty living conditions, predated Trump’s second term in the White House. But recent developments have exacerbated this situation.

Because wages are not keeping up with inflation, one employee said he was unable to pay rent and live for most of the year. At the same time, people in park housing face security threats, such as rodents carried by Hanta virus, which invade living spaces, cave roofs and unstable decks, he said. The understaffed people have plagued Yosemite for many years.

“You see people working here, they are really at the end of wisdom,” he said. “Personally, it’s just a lot of work to deal with. A few years ago, we were twice as many people who did this.”

He added that the staff were “worrying about their future.”

The National Park Service did not respond to a request for comment. But in a statement to the Senate Appropriation Subcommittee in May, Burgum said the Trump administration remains committed to supporting parks while finding ways to cut costs.

“Since becoming the Home Secretary, I have visited national parks, historic sites and wildlife refuges to learn and listen to ground leadership.” Bogum said. “We are making changes to make more people really work in the park and expect Yellowstone Principal Cam Sholly predicts it will be “outstanding summer.” Transparent

The union vote came as the Trump administration tried to strip federal employees of labor protections that many people have long loved. Thursday, Trump signs executive orderGuide certain federal agencies (including NASA, National Weather Service and Reclamation) to end collective bargaining agreements with unions representing federal employees.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has previously proposed to terminate protection measures for 400,000 workers. The president’s overall efforts in this regard are fighting in court, although Federal judges are out of reach for government.

With labor turbulent arrangements, Americans and foreign tourists are heading to unprecedented national parks. In 2024, there Record 332 million visits to national parksincluding 4 million to Yosemite. On Labor Day weekend, the crowd continues to enter the national park.

Organizations advocating for public land say short-term staffing is quietly increasing long-term problems.

“It’s clear that the staffing shortage directly affects park operations throughout the system.” said in a statement Wednesday.

“Parcs such as Joshua Tree and Yosemite are struggling with search and rescue, law enforcement and even basic medical services, while some parks do not have maintenance staff at all. Seasonal roads, trails and campgrounds such as Sequoia and Kings Canyon remain closed due to damage.”

The union vote takes place from July 22 to August 19 and includes permanent and seasonal employees. The National Federation of Federal Employees represents workers in several other national parks, including Yellowstone and the Kuyahoga Valley in Ohio, as well as workers in the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Administration.

Gutierrez said federal employees have no right to strike, which means many employees must be advocated in Washington, D.C., and he said unions can bring workers face to face with congressional leaders to explain why their work is important — including the tourism value they help generate.

The next step will include hammering Yosemite and labour contracts for Sequoia and Kings Canyon, which can provide job protection.

Gutierrez said he wanted to see one by December, but admitted it could be a long process.

“If Trump put his finger in, it would take longer,” he said.