ELECTION PROCEDURES

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) will conduct the vote in person at LGBG by secret ballot. Below are the details of the election:

Election Timeline

  • Date & Time: The secret ballot election will take place on November 21st, 2024, from 2pm-6pm. The election will be conducted in the Lab Room.

  • Who Can Vote: All full-time and regular part-time employees. Those classified as managers, supervisors, and/or confidential employees, as defined by the National Labor Relations Act, may not be represented by a union. As a result, the Garden and the IAM union have agreed that individuals in the following job classifications may vote in the election, but their ballots will be subject to challenge since the National Labor Relations Board has not made a determination regarding their eligibility to join the union: Membership Services & Stewardship Coordinator; Membership Operations Coordinator; Arboriculture and IPM Manager; Director of Social Responsibility; Director of Planned and Leadership Giving; Database Manager & Advancement Associate; Capital Campaign Manager; and Seasonal Marketing Associate. No decision has been made regarding whether these individuals are included in, or excluded from, the bargaining unit. The eligibility or inclusion of these individuals will be resolved, if necessary, following the election.

  • Who Can't Vote: The Board Liaison & Executive Assistant, the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, temporary employees, managerial employees, confidential employees, office clerical employees, guards, and supervisors as defined in the Act. Although the IAM union included them in the initial petition, both the Garden and union have agreed that the following specific positions are not eligible to vote: Board Liaison & Executive Assistant and the Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

  • Who Will Be Present When You Vote: The election will be conducted by a representative from the National Labor Relations Board. LGBG and the IAM can have an observer present, who are usually eligible voters. The observers are present to confirm a potential voter’s employment status with LGBG before the NLRB agent hands them a ballot. None of the individuals present will be able to see how you vote.

Instructions to fill out and complete the ballot: 

  • Each ballot will have one question: "Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers?”

    • If you want to be represented by the union, simply place an “X” in the box labeled YES.

    • If you do not want to be represented by the union, simply write an “X” in the box labeled NO.

Then, fold your ballot and place it in the ballot box.

Do not write anything else on the ballot such as your name, classification or department. If you do write anything else on the ballot other than the “X” in the box of your choice, the NLRB will likely not count your ballot.

Those who may vote subject to challenge will receive additional instructions from the Board agent who is present, but their votes remain private.

  • Voting is quick, easy and secret. Please exercise your right to vote. A simple majority of those who actually appear, and vote determines the election result, either in favor of or against IAM. Not voting does not mean a NO or a YES vote to the union; it means that your voice is not heard.

  • Counting the Vote: The NLRB agent will open all ballots and count them immediately following closure of the voting period on November 21st, 2024. The result will be determined by the simple majority of votes actually cast in the election.

If you want to be represented by IAM, simply place an “X” in the box labeled YES.

If you do not want to be represented by IAM, simply write an “X” in the box labeled NO.