In December 2024, a majority of Fellows voted to ratify our first-ever union contract at NIH.

This was the result of years of organizing and eight months of democratic bargaining by Fellows across every campus, institute, and fellowship type, involving months of collective action by Fellows at NIH.

This was a historic achievement. Among our major wins, this contract secured:

• Guaranteed annual pay increases and a commitment to standardize pay across Institutes

• Industry-leading protections against harassment, discrimination, and abusive conduct

• 12 weeks of guaranteed paid parental leave and 30 days of protected time off

• Enforceable health and safety standards and workload protections

• Expanded rights and visa protections for Visiting Fellows

• The right to a fair grievance process with neutral arbitration

You can read more about each of our wins below.

This collective bargaining agreement took effect on December 20, 2024, and will remain in effect through December 20, 2027.