Lab workers at Tempus AI, a precision medicine company in Chicago, have formed a union with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), marking a notable development in labor organizing within the biotech sector.
The campaign began when the lab workers, many holding advanced degrees and specializing in artificial intelligence-driven cancer research, sought improved safety standards, better work-life balance, competitive pay and benefits, and greater transparency from their employer. According to Chris Tucker, an IAM Midwest Territory International Representative, the workers approached several unions before selecting IAM for its experience with technology and healthcare sectors. “They interviewed us,” said Tucker. “They were interviewing unions and we were one of the candidates that they were looking at to form their union.”
IAM Midwest Territory Coordinator William “Bill” LePinske highlighted the significance of this effort: “Their union will set a new standard for what workers can expect and demand in the biotech industry.”
Anson Poe, a Tempus AI lab worker, explained why they chose IAM: “We landed on the Machinists because they had experience with tech, they had experience with healthcare, and the reps I talked to were very responsive.”
Tucker emphasized IAM’s approach during the campaign: “They chose the IAM because we were the most responsive. When they reached out to us, we got back to them right away… We gave them the information and waited for them to come back to us.”
The organizing process involved extensive education efforts between IAM representatives and Tempus workers. Tucker noted that lab staff often worked long hours while feeling undervalued by management. Poe described his motivation: “I just saw management never listening to their good ideas, and I wanted to make them listen.”
Over two years of biweekly virtual meetings built solidarity among employees as they created their own identity—Tempus Unio—with a logo featuring a fist encircled by a DNA sequence.
“They educated themselves. The company came to find that these workers weren’t scared at all,” said Tucker. “They knew their rights… They even set up a table at lunchtime that said ‘come ask me about our union’.”
By March 2024, 443 lab workers voted for IAM representation and established Local H1—the first healthcare unit in IAM’s Midwest Territory. Geny Ulloa, Midwest Territory Organizing Lead for IAM, commented on its broader impact: “What this group means to us is they have put us in a position where we are ready to take on any sector… Not only the fact that we were able to be successful, but it was something new to us and we were able to adapt.”
Negotiations for their first contract began soon after certification. LePinske led bargaining efforts focused on addressing core issues such as pay equity, safety measures, benefits improvements, and work-life balance.
“We spent a lot of time in preparation,” said LePinske. “Everything was very well thought out. I applaud the committee’s work away from the bargaining table and their level of dedication to the process. On both sides of the table, it wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about solving problems.”
On April 24, 2025—just over a year after election certification—their first contract took effect. It guarantees wage increases between 10%–12.5% over three years (with merit-based additions), retroactive raises from February 24, 2025, wage protection if new hires exceed minimums by more than 5%, annual stock grants from Tempus AI Inc., creation of a safety committee, formal grievance procedures including arbitration options, and improved paid time off rules.
Tucker praised those involved: “We got a first contract in only eight bargaining sessions… They spent a lot of their own time and made an extraordinary effort to create terms that don’t just benefit themselves but benefit the whole group.”
Ulloa added: “Securing the first contract without any sort of issues has sent a strong message throughout the labor movement and America saying we are ready… We are ready to take on any challenge that is put in front of us.”
The newly chartered union is formally named “Next Generation Local H1.” LePinske explained its meaning: “The name is symbolic of their young energy coming into the space… It’s a reflection of the work they do… known as ‘Next Generation Sequencing’ or NGS—and also signifies what they were trying to accomplish with their local union.”
