Cornell University mobile logo
Worker with a mask in a restaurant

Events

See all Worker Institute Events

“Stories of Belonging” Immigration Project Featured in NYC’s Photoville Festival

Cornell ILR’s Worker Institute (WI) will feature a community-engaged research project at the 13th Annual Photoville Festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park from June 1-16, 2024.
TPS
“Stories of Belonging” Immigration Project Featured in NYC’s Photoville Festival

WI Launches We Rise Nanny Training Report

“We Rise shifted people’s mindset from ‘I’m just a nanny’ to ‘I do some of the most important work in society, work that raises children and without which nothing else could function. My compensation should reflect my importance to your family and the world,’” said Ketchel Carey ‘23.
We Rise group shot
WI Launches We Rise Nanny Training Report

Launch of Ed Vargas Legacy Fund Celebrates Labor Legacy

The Ed Vargas Legacy Fund launched on Mar. 7 with over $100,000 in donations. Friends, family and colleagues gathered at Cornell ILR’s New York City headquarters to commemorate Vargas and continue his legacy.
Ed Vargas Launch
Launch of Ed Vargas Legacy Fund Celebrates Labor Legacy

News

See all Worker Institute Latest News

ULI Spotlight: Christina Christman, President Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381, Monroe County

Christina is a Recipient of the 2024-25 NYS AFL-CIO Union L.E.A.D. Scholarship Christina says that the ULI has helped her reflect on issues such as union-busting tactics, the importance of robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and challenges in resource allocation.
Christina Christman
ULI Spotlight: Christina Christman, President Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381, Monroe County

Worker Center Innovation in Upstate New York 

On October 25th, in Syracuse, New York, more than 8 upstate organizations gathered for an event to strategize on building long-term worker power in their region.
hub image post
Worker Center Innovation in Upstate New York 

ULI Spotlight: Marvin Tavarez, Business Representative Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) Local 28

Recipient of the 2024-25 NYS AFL-CIO Union L.E.A.D. Scholarship. The ULI program has been an enlightening experience, broadening his perspective and exposing him to diverse opinions.
Marvin Tavarez
ULI Spotlight: Marvin Tavarez, Business Representative Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) Local 28

Reports

See all WI reports

Assessing the Impact of Prevailing Wage Benefits on Workers, Contractors, and the New York City Economy

This research report illustrates how PW laws might make union construction labor more cost effective than non-union construction labor for PW jobs.
PW image
Assessing the Impact of Prevailing Wage Benefits on Workers, Contractors, and the New York City Economy

Unpaid Care Work and Its Impact on New Yorkers' Paid Employment

To explore current patterns of unpaid caregiving and its impact on New Yorkers’ paid employment, the Worker Institute has published a policy brief sharing relevant findings from the 2022 Empire State Poll, carried out by the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR).
home care worker
Unpaid Care Work and Its Impact on New Yorkers' Paid Employment

Equity in Focus: Job Creation for a Just Society

This report explores these themes and discusses how policymakers, practitioners, and advocates are addressing the inequities in three sectors: the child care economy, the clean energy economy, and the construction trades, as presented in the Equity in focus—Job Creation for a Just Society series.
Women working during the pandemic
Equity in Focus: Job Creation for a Just Society

Equity at Work

See all stories about equity at work

Data Snapshots on Care Work, Online Platform Work, and Sexual Harassment in New York State

The Worker Institute recently published three data snapshots of findings to questions asked about the care economy, the experience of sexual harassment in the workplace, and work for online platforms. Read on for a preview of key findings with links to the three data snapshots.
A nurse tends to a wheelchair bound patient in her home
Data Snapshots on Care Work, Online Platform Work, and Sexual Harassment in New York State

Labor Standards Can Help Us Build Back Better

Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate team examines the American Jobs Plan and explains why the built-in labor standards are critical to the proposal’s success.
Labor Standards
Labor Standards Can Help Us Build Back Better

What’s Ahead for Teachers?

A year after COVID-19 disrupted education, Dean Alex Colvin and Randi Weingarten ’80 will discuss the future of K-12 teaching.
A female teacher wearing a mask puts hand sanitizer on a student
What’s Ahead for Teachers?

Lifting Worker Voices

See all stories in Lifting Worker Voices

Learning to lead: ILR institute trains the next generation of union organizers

Cornell Chronicle
A former sanitation worker, Hill is one of 32 labor professionals set to graduate June 6 from the AFL-CIO/Cornell-ILR Union Leadership Institute (ULI).
Ka’jeem Hill
Learning to lead: ILR institute trains the next generation of union organizers

Custodian to National Union Leader: an ILRie’s Journey

An ILR student helped establish the United Auto Workers Local 2300, which now represents Cornell building maintenance and service workers.
Al Davidoff ’80
Custodian to National Union Leader: an ILRie’s Journey

ULI Alumni Shares His Leadership Path to Public Office

A spotlight on ULI alumni, Randy Brolo.
Randy Brolo - ULI alumni spotlight
ULI Alumni Shares His Leadership Path to Public Office

Profile of a Platform-Worker

Profile of a platform worker Espen Utne Landgraff, who lives and works in Oslo, Norway by journalist E. Tammy Kim.
Drawing of Espen Utne Landgraff by Molly Crabapple
Profile of a Platform-Worker

NLLI Facebook Live Interview Montserrat Garibay

National Labor Leadership Initiative Facebook Live Series: "How are NLLI Leaders Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis." Jennifer Beuthin interviewing Montserrat Garibay, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, Wednesday, July 15th.
Icon
Accessibility text goes here and is required
NLLI Facebook Live Interview Montserrat Garibay

NLLI Facebook Live Interview Siobhan Vipond

National Labor Leadership Initiative Facebook Live Series: "How are NLLI Leaders Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis." Jennifer Beuthin interviewing Siobhan Vipond, Secretary-Treasurer, Alberta Labour Federation. Wednesday, July 8th, 2020.
Icon
Accessibility text goes here and is required
NLLI Facebook Live Interview Siobhan Vipond

Labor Solidarity and Racial Injustice

See all stories in Labor Solidarity and Racial Injustice

Opinion – All Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Citizenship – Not Just Essential Workers

Shannon Gleeson outlines the situation faced by undocumented workers, and discusses potential futures for them including pathways to citizenship and their relationship.
man wearing a mask and high-vis vest riding a delivery bike
Opinion – All Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Citizenship – Not Just Essential Workers

The Intervention White America Needs

Tristan Ivory, Assistant Professor, International and Comparative Labor, writes about the history that led to this moment and direct actions to address systemic racism and poverty.
Protesters hold a sign saying "Boiling Point" during protests against the killing of George Floyd.
The Intervention White America Needs

About Violence and Resistance

Risa L. Lieberwitz, Professor of Labor and Employment Law, writes about the meaning and history of violence and resistance.
Photos of Tributes to Eric Gardner and Michael Brown.
About Violence and Resistance