File photo.

The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) announced last week that workers at Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks have elected NFFE to serve as their union representative.

With over 97% voting in favor at both locations, Interpretive Park Rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters and other staff at the two historic parks are now officially unionized.

The election was held from July 22 to August 19, when the parks have their highest staff levels, and both permanent and seasonal employees had the opportunity to vote. The Federal Labor Relations Authority certified the results of the election on Monday, adding approximately 600 workers to the union.

Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon join their fellow park service employees at Yellowstone, Cuyahoga Valley, Pictured Rocks and Gulf Islands National Seashore, as well as many other federal land management employees across the U.S. Forest Service & Bureau of Land Management represented by NFFE.

“It comes as no surprise workers in the National Park Service are overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing, as federal employees across the country have been faced with reductions in force, threats to workplace protections, and slashed agency budgets under this administration,” says union President Randy Erwin.