More than 600 staff across Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have unionized after results of a summer election were certified this week.
According to the National Federation of Federal Employees, a union that represents employees of the federal government, 97% of employees voted to elect NFFE as their union representative. The voting lasted from July 22 to August 19, and included both permanent and seasonal employees.
The NFFE already represents workers at a number of national parks across the country, including Yellowstone and Cuyahoga Valley National Parks. At the two California parks, all National Park Service employees — from park rangers to researchers to first responders — will be eligible for the union.
According to one park ranger who was part of the parks’ uni