Employees at the Norfolk Botanical Garden have voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union. The decision came after a July 23 election, with workers supporting union representation by a margin of 43-23. This follows several months of organizing led by IAM Southern Assistant Organizing Coordinator Bridget Fitzgerald.
The organizing efforts began earlier this year, inspired by a successful union drive at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in November 2024. Norfolk workers were influenced by the experience of their counterparts at Lewis Ginter and initiated contact with Fitzgerald in early 2025. They started 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.”
The IAM Union has been increasing its efforts to organize employees in the nonprofit sector, focusing on groups like those at Norfolk Botanical Garden who serve the public.
Employees cited several reasons for seeking collective bargaining, including low wages compared to local living standards, limited transparency in management decisions, and inconsistent policies—particularly regarding inclement weather.
“Most of them, the first thing they mention is needing better pay, but then they say that what they really want is a voice,” said Fitzgerald. “The lack of transparency, the inconsistency, and no reliable policy on inclement weather – for this type of work that’s unacceptable.”
The campaign received broad community support. Nearly 450 people signed a petition backing the workers’ effort. State Senator Angelia Williams Graves and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott also voiced their support for the unionization drive.
Despite resistance from management—including hiring an anti-union consultant—the employees remained committed to joining IAM Local 10.
“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 now complete, members are preparing for contract negotiations alongside IAM Local 10 and District 2020 Directing Business Representative Charles Mann. The group plans to conduct a bargaining survey, elect representatives for negotiations, and draft proposals before starting formal talks.
Norfolk IAM members aim to address issues such as pay increases, clear policies on inclement weather and attendance, and more opportunities for input into workplace operations.
“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.”
Although nonprofit organizations often face budget constraints, Norfolk employees emphasized their intention is not to harm operations but rather secure fair treatment at work.
“They love the work,” said Fitzgerald. “They want to make it a career, not just a job for a few years.”
