Transcript of the Regional FLRA Hearing

In 2023, Fellows voted to form NIH Fellows United, UAW 2750, and in 2024 we negotiated and ratified our first contract, winning protections against harassment and discrimination, expanded leave, guaranteed health insurance, and pay raises. On March 2, 2026, NIH notified our union it would no longer recognize the bargaining unit, arguing fellows aren't "employees" but trainees, whose work doesn't benefit NIH and whose relationships with PIs are purely academic mentorships rather than supervisory ones. Our contract remains fully in effect regardless. This page hosts the complete, unaltered transcript from the July 29 and 30 hearing where the Federal Labor Relations Authority took testimony on that question. It's now part of the permanent record the FLRA will use to decide the case. For background on the hearing and what happens next, see our ongoing updates at uaw2750.org/updates.