This is our History
First Union Meeting
July 2021
Fellows across NIH campuses met for the first time to discuss forming a union. Learn more
NIH Fellows United is created
May 1st, 2022
Fellows form the NIH Fellows United-UAW organizing committee and vote to work with the UAW to launch a union authorization card drive. This is the first step to secure a unionization election.
A Majority of Fellows Fight for a Union Election
June 2023
A majority of NIH Fellows-- over 3,000-- submit union election authorization cards to the FLRA in June, 2023. The NIH files an objection, falsely claiming most fellows are not workers and do not deserve a union-- but we didn't back down. Hundreds of Fellows signed an open letter to HHS leadership, which led to the NIH retracting. Fellows could schedule their union election!
Fellows Win our Union!
Sep 2023
Fellows vote 97.8% YES to form our union!
Fighting for a Fair First Contract
Feb - Dec 2024
After months of negotiations between Fellows and the NIH, we end bargaining and a majority of Fellows vote to ratify our contract with a 98.3% YES vote!