The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has withdrawn recognition from the union representing its postdoctoral and graduate student fellows. In the email announcing the decision, the NIH stated it withdrew recognition because the fellows are not “employees.” Unionization at federal agencies like the NIH is regulated by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), rather than the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which oversees labor relations in the private sector.
The unit, represented by the United Auto Workers, was certified by the FLRA in December 2023 after NIH fellows voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a union. The unit included approximately 5,000 early-career researchers in post-baccalaureate, graduate student and postdoctoral positions at the NIH.
The NIH and Union entered into a collective bargaining agreement which was ratified in December 2024, and set to expire in December 2027.
On March 2, 2026, despite the CBA being in effect, the NIH wrote to the Union stating that “[t]he NIH/UAW bargaining unit should never have been certified” and the NIH would “no longer recognize the NIH/UAW bargaining unit.” Importantly, the NIH's email asserted that the NIH trainees represented by the union are not “employees” as they are primarily trainees.
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