OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR team
At Casey Trees, our roots run deep in the community, just like the trees we plant, care for, and protect. For over two decades, Casey Trees has been dedicated to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of our nation’s capital. This mission has always been, and will continue to be, our guiding light.
Our team members are the embodiment of this dedication and commitment to the mission. They bring exceptional passion and professionalism to the work we do and the contributions we make to our community.
A New Era of Collective Bargaining
Last year, Casey Trees employees voted to unionize with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). Casey Trees respects all employees’ right to choose union representation and engage in collective bargaining if they feel it is the right choice for them. Since the unionization effort began, Casey Trees has fully supported our team members, diligently followed the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) process, proposed a timeline and structure for contract negotiations, and successfully agreed on several matters with the Union impacting bargaining unit staff.
While these negotiations have been ongoing, Casey Trees and the IAMAW are awaiting guidance from the NLRB on how Casey Trees’ partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture impacts union member eligibility. Casey Trees has requested clarification on this matter and is awaiting a decision from the NLRB on what employees might be exempt from the National Labor Relations Act, which could have implications for both the organization and other nonprofits with similar missions.
Working at Casey Trees
At Casey Trees, we invest in our people to achieve our mission. Our goal is to support the growth of each team member to make them more effective at their jobs, while advancing their careers to achieve their full potential.
Core to this commitment, Casey Trees offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional development. The starting salary for entry-level, manual field labor positions is $53,560 per year or $25.75 per hour; the median salary for entry-level arboricultural positions is $72,100 per year or $34.66 per hour; and on average every employee takes 7 weeks of paid annual leave. Some of our benefits are as follows:
• 12 paid holidays per year
• 12 vacation days per year upon hire, up to 22 days at 6 years of service
• 12 sick days per year, plus other paid and guaranteed leave
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision care totaling $9,120 annually
• 75% employer-paid for family/dependents
• 6% retirement plan match, up to 10% match after 6 years of service
• Educational assistance starting at $1,500 per year, up to $3,500 per year
• Employer-paid group life insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
According to independent industry benchmarks, all employees are paid at or above the average comparable compensation rates for their positions, experience, and tenure, and paid equitably across departments, cohorts, and employee demographics.
Equally important, Casey Trees has an unblemished safety record. Our employees’ safety, especially those in the field, remains our top priority.
Dedicated to A Strong Culture
Casey Trees recognizes that our workplace dynamics have changed with the shift to collective bargaining, but that does not change the fact that our team members are the lifeblood of Casey Trees. Their passion, expertise, and hard work is what makes it possible to fulfill our mission. Together, we will continue to grow, adapt, and thrive.
While we have always preferred direct team member engagement through our open-door policy, we have already established a productive working relationship with the bargaining unit through its IAMAW representatives. Union or no union, Casey Trees is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, supportive, and safe for all our employees.
Fulfilling Our Mission
Despite the ongoing rollback of state and federal funding, Casey Trees – like all environmental groups – remains optimistic about the necessity of our mission.
Our commitment to the health and beauty of the District of Columbia and the restoration and protection of our urban forest is firmly established. Our efforts would be impossible without the dedication, passion and expertise of our team members, who give so much of themselves to their work, the city and in service of the environment.
