HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Employees at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico County are taking a stand for better pay, improved safety and fairer working conditions by pushing to form a union.
Dozens of workers who have raised concerns about wages and safety for months are now joining forces with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to negotiate directly with management.
According to Clara Aus, who has worked at the garden for nearly three years in various roles, despite repeatedly raising concerns with management, she and her colleagues felt their voices were not being heard.
“We love this space, we love the garden so much, and we just want what’s best for it,” Aus said.
However, she and others are frustrated by the lack of action on issues such as low wages, with some employees earning less than $15 an hour, which Aus says is below a living wage.
In addition to fair compensation, workers are also pushing for improved safety measures. Many of the garden’s horticulture staff work outdoors, often using heavy equipment and machinery.