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RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 1, 2026 — Workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, represented by LGBG Workers United of the IAM Union, have voted to strike after more than a year of negotiations without coming to an agreement on fair wages.
“I am beyond proud of the perseverance and tenacity my fellow workers have shown in this fight for fair wages and good faith bargaining. I am hopeful this strike will finally make the Garden wake up and realize our labor is essential for ongoing operations and the long term success of the Garden,” said LGBG Workers United member Eryn Boyle. “We all deserve much better and have proven we refuse to back down. United we bargain, divided we beg.”
The strike vote comes after two one-day strikes, a call for a boycott, and increased public support as workers hold their ground for meaningful wage increases from the Garden. Employees have gone two years without a wage increase, while the average wage for bargaining unit workers remains just $17.52 per hour—far below the approximately $25-per-hour living wage for the Richmond area.
“These workers have been patient, they have continued showing up for their community, and they have continued doing the work that makes Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden such a special place,” said IAM Union Organizer Bridget Fitzgerald. “But patience does not pay the bills. These workers deserve a contract that recognizes their value and allows them to build a life in the Richmond community.”
The workers voted overwhelmingly in November 2024 to join the IAM Union, with 65% voting in favor of union representation. Bargaining for their first contract began Feb. 6, 2025. After well over a year of negotiations, workers say wages remain the central unresolved issue.
On April 30, 2026, the IAM Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has failed to bargain in good faith, citing regressive wage proposals.
LGBG Workers United will initiate their strike on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, after an overwhelming majority of union members voted in favor.
The workers’ campaign has garnered overwhelming community support. More than 1,150 people have signed a petition supporting the employees, including Garden members, volunteers, and local residents. Earlier this summer, workers also held two one-day Unfair Labor Practice strikes.
Their most recent action received high-profile support from Grammy-nominated musician Jesse Welles, who refused to cross the workers’ picket line after learning of the strike. Welles rescheduled his concert at the Garden for another venue and publicly called on the Garden to “pay a living wage or get lost.”
“Community support has shown these workers that they are not alone,” Fitzgerald said. “From the hundreds of people who have signed their petition to Jesse Welles, Graham Nash, the Dan Schutt Band, and Ramona and the Holy Smokes, standing with them. Richmond is watching. Workers want to continue doing the jobs they love, but they also need to be able to afford to live in the community they serve.”
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden employees are the backbone of the institution, providing environmental education, maintaining the Garden’s grounds, supporting programming, and creating meaningful experiences for visitors.
The workers say they want a first contract that makes working at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden a sustainable career rather than a job employees cannot afford to keep.
The union remains ready to reach a fair agreement at the bargaining table and awaits a fair proposal from Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
