We met this week with NIH management for our seventh bargaining session as we fight to win our historic first contract. NIH management came to the table unprepared and spent the vast majority of the three days in their caucus room. They passed very few proposals and currently have 15 of our proposals, some of which they have had for over a month with no response.
We did reach tentative agreements on two key articles, Research Integrity and Fellow Schedules, and we have now reached agreement on 20 articles!
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Research Integrity: We won the right to an authorship resolution process (even for Fellows who have left NIH) and to have a union representative present in any meeting.
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Fellow Schedules: This article protects against excessive work demands and unreasonable schedules, and it provides Fellows with the flexibility they need to manage their work schedules effectively.
As we continue to strive for a supportive and equitable environment for all Fellows, we discussed two critical areas where change is needed: Fellows’ rights to a respectful work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and addressing visa issues that impact Visiting Fellows.
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Respectful work environment and non-discrimination: To create a truly respectful work environment, Fellows need an fair independent anti-discrimination and anti-harassment investigation process. It’s hard to trust that issues will be addressed fairly when NIH is investigating itself for wrongdoing. We have proposed that discrimination and harassment would be grievable under our contract as many other researchers have won in their union contracts. This would ensure our concerns are taken seriously, leading to real accountability and change.
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Addressing Visa Challenges: The annual visa renewal process places burdens on us, our labmates, our work, our spouses’ careers, and our mental health. We have proposed longer minimum appointments, which would mean longer visas. Fellows on J-1 visas also face NIH’s onerous and unnecessary requirements to get the No-Objection Statement waiver, which is required to secure an H-1B visa. Our proposal would eliminate NIH’s barriers to Fellows obtaining H-1Bs so they can progress with their careers.
Additionally, this week we proposed articles on leave (including personal time off, sick time and family leave), transit benefits, health benefits, travel reimbursements, training, and relocation costs. You can read all of proposals from NIH Fellows and NIH management on our tracker here
NIH Fellows continue to make progress toward our first contract. To win on all the important issues, including compensation, it will take all of us. Fellows across ICs are organizing to win — to get involved send an email to info@nihfellowsunited.org
Reply to this email to learn how Fellows at your IC are collaborating to make this plan to win a success.
In Solidarity,
Haley Chatelaine, IRTA Postdoc, NCATS, Rockville
Sharmina Deloer, Visiting Fellow, NIAID, Bethesda
Ian Fucci, CRTA Postdoc, NCI, Frederick
Tara Fischer, Research Fellow, NINDS, Bethesda
Zohirul Islam, Visiting Fellow, NIAID, Bethesda
Rosa Lafer-Sousa, IRTA Postdoc, NIMH, Bethesda
Alexander Jordan Lara, Postbac, NIDCR, Bethesda
Marjorie Levinstein, IRTA Postdoc, NIDA, Baltimore
Amilcar Rodriguez, Predoc, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park North Carolina
Emilya Ventriglia, Predoc, NIMH, Bethesda
Corey Young, CRTA Postdoc, NCI, Rockville