Employees at Norfolk Botanical Garden have voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, following a union election held on July 23. The final vote count was 43 in favor and 23 against, with workers joining IAM Local 10 after several months of organizing.
The effort began after employees at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden successfully organized in November 2024. Inspired by that campaign, Norfolk workers contacted IAM Southern Assistant Organizing Coordinator Bridget Fitzgerald in early 2025 and started gathering union election authorization cards 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.”
The IAM Union has focused on organizing in the non-profit sector, aiming to support employees who work for public benefit organizations such as botanical gardens.
Norfolk Botanical Garden staff cited the need for higher wages, increased transparency, improved decision-making processes, and a stronger collective voice as key reasons for seeking union representation. According to Fitzgerald, “Most of them, the first thing they mention is needing better pay, but then they say that what they really want is a voice. The lack of transparency, the inconsistency, and no reliable policy on inclement weather – for this type of work that’s unacceptable.”
The campaign received public support from nearly 450 people who signed a community petition as well as endorsements from State Senator Angelia Williams Graves and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott.
Despite resistance from management—including hiring an anti-union consultant—workers remained committed to their goal. “Workers countered every lie and piece of misinformation,” said Fitzgerald. “Nothing the employer did with anti‑union persuasion was going to change their mind.”
With certification complete, the new bargaining unit will begin preparing for contract negotiations alongside IAM Local 10 and District 2020 Directing Business Representative Charles Mann. This process will include distributing a bargaining survey, selecting a negotiating committee, and drafting proposals before formal talks start.
Norfolk IAM members plan to focus negotiations on wage increases, implementing an inclement-weather policy, establishing clear attendance guidelines, and ensuring sustainable working conditions.
“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.”
Fitzgerald noted that while nonprofit organizations often have limited resources compared to other sectors, employees are seeking fair treatment rather than causing harm to their workplace. “They love the work,” said Fitzgerald. “They want to make it a career, not just a job for a few years.”
