In a significant victory by the IAM Organizing Department, 174 non-professional employees at the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and eastern California have successfully organized under the IAM Union.
“We are extremely motivated to bring union representation to more and more federal workers in the National Parks and Forest Service,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett. “Federal workers have been under attack by the current administration, and we are determined to bring the security of a union contract to the dedicated people who maintain and conserve our nation’s protected lands.”
The organizing effort was largely driven by the employees themselves, with the help of their already unionized coworkers Robin Wignall, a Wildland Hydrologist, and Giovanni Lopez, a Wildland Firefighter—both NFFE-IAM members.
Jerry McCarty, the IAM Assistant Organizer Coordinator who coordinated the process of union representation for the group, highlighted the grassroots nature of the campaign.
“This was an employee-driven effort,” said McCarty. “The workers felt the need for a union to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.”
Amid the current administration’s attacks on federal workers, the IAM Organizing Department has been strategically organizing workers across National Parks and the Forest Service since early 2025.
READ: IAM Union Scores Big Wins in Federal Sector Organizing Effort
“The successful unionization of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest employees is a testament to the power and importance of union representation,” said IAM Assistant Organizing Director Juan Eldridge. “Our organizers and our members are on-the-ground in the national parks and forests, showing potential members the real benefits of a union in the federal sector. I hope this victory, previous ones, and the ones to come serve as inspiration for the unorganized federal workers out there.”
READ: U.S. National Park Service Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join NFFE-IAM
McCarty emphasized Wignall’s initiative and dedication, noting that she spearheaded the campaign by gathering interest and conducting outreach through Zoom meetings.
“They already knew there was a contract that would cover them as soon as they got the union vote in,” said McCarty.
Employees who win their union in an election are immediately covered by the NFFE-IAM’s Master Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service.
The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is one of the largest national forests in the United States, and the union agreement provides a considerable improvement from previous conditions. The rapidly growing desire for employment security through union representation comes as President Trump has unlawfully tried to eliminate federal workers’ jobs and his administration has torn up collective bargaining agreements for federal workers.
“This victory reflects a growing momentum among Forest Service workers,” said McCarty. “With the political climate and recent attacks on unions, employees are feeling the urgency to organize.”
READ: Workers at Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Organize a Union Under NFFE-IAM
The campaign, which began in the summer of 2025, faced several challenges, including delays due to government shutdowns. However, the determination of the employees led to a nearly unanimous vote in favor of the union.
As the IAM continues to expand its reach within the federal sector, the focus will remain on empowering all eligible workers.
“We’ve got less than 3,000 Forest Service workers left who are union eligible,” said McCarty. “We’re committed to organizing them all.”
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