Full Breakdown
Glacier National Park Employees Unionize Amid Federal Workforce Cuts
6/27/2026, 1:28:14 AM
Union Victory at Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park employees and staff at ten other NPS sites in the Intermountain West voted 317-to-11 to join the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). The election, held May-June, will create NTEU Chapter 347, representing roughly 650 non-supervisory workers. Certification is expected soon.
Workforce Cuts Prompt Organizing
The vote follows a year of staffing reductions after the Trump administration’s 2025 cuts. The National Parks Conservation Association reported the NPS lost nearly a quarter of its permanent workforce, and Glacier’s year-round staff fell about 25%, from roughly 130 to 90 positions. A hiring freeze left the park scrambling for seasonal staff before the summer. Interim union officer Peri Sasnett, an eight-season Glacier employee who has worked at five parks, led the drive. NTEU President Doreen Greenwald announced union support, and NPCA program manager Sarah Lundstrum supplied the staff-loss data.
Vote Results and Park Scope
The Federal Labor Relations Authority recorded the 317-to-11 vote. Chapter 347 will cover about 650 employees at Glacier and 11 additional parks, including Grand Canyon and Grand Teton, spanning several western states. One source cites 12 parks in the Intermountain Region; another mentions 87 parks in the Mountain West, creating a scope discrepancy.
Official Responses
NTEU said the chapter will help employees exercise collective bargaining rights. NPCA linked the staffing crisis to the organizing surge. A Glacier spokesperson declined comment. The FLRA’s certification will grant the union legal status.
Employee Viewpoint
Sasnett traveled to remote backcountry districts to discuss union ideas with rangers lacking cell service, noting a stronger sense of community. She said employees want job protections to care for the parks.
Conflicting Reports
Sources differ on the number of parks covered: twelve in the Intermountain Region versus eighty-seven in the Mountain West. No clarification has been provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a historic day for these NPS employees, who have chosen to stand together in solidarity and have a meaningful voice in their workplace,” — Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President
- “NPS IMR employees protect our national heritage and some of our most cherished national treasures,” — Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President
- “I feel a much stronger sense of community and solidarity with my coworkers than I did before this,” — Peri Sasnett, Interim Union Officer
- “What it all comes back to is that we love our jobs and we love being able to take care of these incredible places,” — Peri Sasnett, Interim Union Officer
Next Steps
After FLRA certification, Chapter 347 will hold a leadership election and begin collective bargaining. Union leaders aim to secure job security, adequate staffing, and resources before the 2026 summer season.
