A strike continues at Arlington National Cemetery, where workers who take care of the grounds where thousands of service members are buried protested for change this Labor Day.
Some of the landscapers have been working at the cemetery for decades but say they aren't being treated fairly. They say federal contractors Greenleaf Services Inc. and the Davey Tree Expert Company have been promising raises for years.
The workers believe they deserve for their work at a solemn national treasure.
"You see workers over here working for almost 22 years without a raise," said Laborers' International Union of North America organizer Jose Gonzales.
Gonzales said he took pictures of overgrown grass at the cemetery last week.
"You will see sections that haven't been touched for more than two weeks," he said.
A cemetery spokesman said long grass in some sections is normal on any given day because the grounds are mowed on a rotating basis.
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The cemetery said it is not involved with the union contract dispute but said in a statement, "We are working with the companies that provide these services to the cemetery to ensure that there is no break or degradation in service."
In addition to a raise, the workers want sick leave and health insurance.
"Lawn service employees at the cemetery receive between $17.37 and $20.31 per hour ... They receive paid vacations of up to four weeks and ... 10 paid federal holidays," Greenleaf President Brad Winemiller said.
The Davey Tree Expert Company said employees have received raises in accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Negotiations for a first-time contract with Davey and Greenleaf continue.
