Indianapolis, Indiana: Zoo Workers Vote to Unionize as Zoo Works to Regain Accreditation

Workers at the Indianapolis Zoo have voted to unionize, joining the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Indiana Kentucky Council 962. The union announced the result in an Oct. 29 social media post. The bargaining unit covers 100 employees, including all full time staff, veterinary staff and regular part time workers in the keepers and collections unit, according to the National Labor Relations Board, IndyStar reported.

The vote gives the keepers, veterinary staff and other workers in the unit a union contract process at one of the city's best known attractions. The council released a letter of support for the newly unionized employees that has gathered more than 200 signatures. The letter asked zoo leadership to stay neutral during the organizing process and to voluntarily recognize the workers once majority support was shown.

The zoo's response

The zoo has not accepted the result yet. "Of course, the Zoo is disappointed in this result, but at this time, it is reviewing the election results and the Zoo's potential legal options in advance of their official certification by the National Labor Relations Board," communications director David Hosick told IndyStar. Ron Richmond, executive director of the council, said the unit will request dates to begin bargaining with zoo leadership as soon as the National Labor Relations Board certifies the election results.

A hard year at the zoo

The union vote lands a month after the zoo lost its national accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The association declined the zoo's most recent application over longstanding concerns, and told IndyStar the issues involved communication, internal consistency, and collaboration across all departments. It was the first time in more than 40 years that the zoo did not gain accreditation, IndyStar reported in September. The zoo is working with the association through its Path to Membership program, which pairs it with the accreditor on targeted improvements. There is no timeline for regaining accreditation. Institutions reapply every five years, and the earliest the Indianapolis Zoo can reapply is September 2027.

The zoo is also searching for its next chief executive. Rob Shumaker left the president and chief executive position in March, and the zoo has not named a successor. When the accreditation loss was announced in September, zoo spokeswoman Anna Shei said the zoo's hours and scheduled programs were not affected, and the zoo has announced no change to hours or programs after the union vote.