Bargaining

***This page will be continually updated as the campaign progresses, so be sure to check back periodically!***

In the coming months, we will negotiate a new contract with the NIH that will determine our working conditions for the next few years. The actual bargaining takes place inside a meeting room, but what we get out of that process depends on what takes place outside that room. The involvement and activism of every single Fellow is critical to bargaining success. Our ability to move administration on our core issues depends on whether the administration sees that we’re united and serious about our bargaining demands.

So if we want a good contract, in the coming months every Fellow will need to be involved:

  • Signing petitions to show our support for bargaining proposals
  • Attending departmental and campus-wide union meetings to give input and build our collective strategy
  • Participating in rallies to show NIH administrators that we are serious and willing to take action
  • And more!

Bargaining Committee Nominations

All NIH Fellows are automatically nominated for the Bargaining Committee. All Fellows across all titles and work locations will cast a ranked vote for all candidates who accept nomination, and the top vote recipients will be chosen for the 11 person Bargaining Committee as such:

2 Postbaccalaureate Fellows
2 Predoctoral Fellows
2 non-Visiting Postdoctoral Fellows
2 Visiting Postdoctoral Fellows
2 FTE Fellows (Research or Clinical)
1 at-large Fellow chosen from the top runner up from the above positions

Nomination Procedure for Bargaining Committee
Each member who wishes to accept nomination for themselves and appear on the ballot must indicate this intention in writing by emailing to info@nihfellowsunited.org. In the written acceptance, specify the type of Fellow you are (postbac, predoc, non-visiting postdoc, visiting postdoc, or FTE) and how you wish your name to appear on the ballot. Fellows accepting nomination may also submit a candidate statement (up to 500 words). Written acceptance and optional candidate statements must be received no later than January 18th, 2024 at 5 PM Eastern Time.

QUESTIONS? Email info@nihfellowsunited.org

Election
The election will take place on January 26th and 27th, 2024. Voting will take place securely online via a secret ballot election. Further information about how to access your ballot will be distributed after nominations close

Everyone who is a Fellow at the NIH at time of the election is eligible to vote.  In the event of a tie, a runoff will be held on February 5th, 2024.