Support Fair Wages for the Workers Who Make Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Thrive
CEO Brian Trader and the Board of Directors, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
.png)
For more than a year, employees—now represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union)—have been negotiating their first contract after voting overwhelmingly to unionize in November 2024. These workers are the backbone of the Garden, providing environmental education, maintaining its beauty, and creating meaningful experiences for visitors every day.
We are calling on the leadership of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to deliver a fair and equitable contract for the dedicated workers who make the Garden a welcoming, educational, and inspiring place for all.
As the Garden prepares to unveil its major THRIVE: A Campaign for Communities expansion on May 23, 2026, the community has the right to expect a commitment to the people who make that growth possible. Yet, despite ongoing negotiations since February 2025, workers are still waiting for a satisfactory offer on wages and benefits—issues that remain the final barrier to reaching an agreement.
None of these represented employees earn a living wage for the Richmond area. Rather the average wage is $17.52 per hour, making it difficult to support themselves and their families. These are not temporary roles—they are essential jobs that deserve sustainable, career-level compensation.
We believe:
- Workers who enrich our community deserve wages that reflect their value.
- A world-class public space should be supported by fair labor practices.
- The success of the THRIVE expansion should include thriving workers.
We urge CEO Brian Trader and the Board of Directors to:
- Present a fair wage proposal that meets the needs of workers.
- Finalize a strong first contract before the THRIVE expansion opens.
- Demonstrate leadership by investing in the people who make the Garden flourish.
The Richmond community has already shown strong support for these workers. Now, it’s time for management to do the same.
By signing this petition, you are standing with the workers of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and calling for a resolution that ensures they can thrive—just like the Garden they care for.
Sign the petition to support fair wages, dignity at work, and a stronger community.
Sponsored by
.png){kind=logo}
To:
CEO Brian Trader and the Board of Directors, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
From:
[Your Name]
We call on the leadership of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to deliver a fair and equitable contract for the dedicated workers who make the Garden a welcoming, educational, and inspiring place for all.
For more than a year, employees—now represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union)—have been negotiating their first contract after voting overwhelmingly to unionize in November 2024. These workers are the backbone of the Garden, providing environmental education, maintaining its beauty, and creating meaningful experiences for visitors every day.
As the Garden prepares to unveil its major THRIVE: A Campaign for Communities expansion on May 23, 2026, we, the community expect a commitment from LGBG to the people who make that growth possible. Yet, despite ongoing negotiations since February 2025, workers are still waiting for a satisfactory offer on wages and benefits—issues that remain the final barrier to reaching an agreement.
All of these represented employees earn less than a living wage for the Richmond area, making it difficult to support themselves and their families. These are not temporary roles—they are essential jobs that deserve sustainable, career-level compensation.
We believe:
- Workers who enrich our community deserve wages that reflect their value.
- A world-class public space should be supported by fair labor practices.
- The success of the THRIVE expansion should include thriving workers.
We urge CEO Brian Trader and the Board of Directors to:
- Present a proposal that brings LGBG workers closer to a LIVING WAGE in Richmond.
- Finalize a strong first contract before the THRIVE expansion opens.
- Demonstrate leadership by investing in the people who make the Garden flourish.
The Richmond community has already shown strong support for these workers. Now, it’s time for management to do the same.
By signing this petition, we stand with the workers of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and call for a resolution that ensures they can thrive—just like the Garden they care for.