Federal Labor Relations Authority

Rule Changes

Regional office ruled against NIH's petition

Roughly 5,000 postdocs, graduate students and postbaccalaureate researchers work in NIH's own labs on term-limited appointments. In December 2023 they voted 97.8% to unionize, and in December 2024 they ratified a contract covering pay, leave and harassment protections. On March 2, 2026, NIH told the union it should 'never have been certified' and asked a federal labor board to remove the fellows from the bargaining unit.

Updated Nov 1