NIH Fellows Vote to Unionize

NIH fellows have organized into a union, the first fellow union ever within the U.S. federal government. NIH Fellows United-UAW comprises more than 5,000 early-career fellows including postbaccalaureate, predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers and clinical fellows. 

A majority of NIH fellows who voted on Dec. 6 supported UAW representation. On Dec. 15, the Federal Labor Relations Authority then certified the vote to establish NIH Fellows United-UAW. NIH will partner with the UAW to understand member needs and engage in collective bargaining negotiations.