A picketing action by Zoo workers on July 12 helped lead to a groundbreaking new contract. 

Workers at Woodland Park Zoo, who are members of the Joint Crafts Council (JCC) Coalition of Unions, have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new 3-year labor agreement. The vote, involving several local unions, took place over the last three days.

“This agreement goes a long way to recognizing the invaluable service union members provide communities across the Pacific Northwest,” said Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117. “Workers at the Woodland Park Zoo care compassionately for the animals, educate the public, build and maintain award-winning exhibits, provide technical support at large events, and much more. Without union labor, the Zoo would be nowhere near the premiere attraction and prime destination that it is for families in our region.”

Negotiations between the Coalition of Unions and the Zoo took place over ten months before the parties reached a tentative agreement, which was fully-recommended by the union negotiations committee on August 12. Workers voted to approve the proposal by a more than 95% margin.

“We’re feeling great,” said Janel Kempf, a learning coordinator, shop steward, and negotiations committee member who has worked at the Zoo for 25 years. “We’ve made great strides on wages, getting much closer to market value. It’s exciting that we now have a contract that finally recognizes workers with decades of experience, which we did not have previously. I’m also excited about putting a cap on increases to our health care costs. This will pay dividends for years to come.”

The Joint Craft Council Coalition of Unions represents 34 classifications at the Zoo, including Animal Keepers, Warehousers, Veterinary Technicians, Painters, Carpenters, Laborers, and many others. Unions in the coalition are: Teamsters Local 117, IATSE Local 15, IBEW 46, LIUNA Laborers Local 242, Boilermakers Local 104, Western State Carpenters, Painters, District Council No. 5, IUOE Local 302, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32.