Welcome to the Cornell Global Labor Institute

The Cornell Global Labor Institute (GLI) offers a unique venue for unions at the local, national and global level to work together to strengthen labor's response to the challenges posed by globalization.  The goal of the Institute is to help union officers, staff and activists gain a deeper understanding of the policies and institutions that shape today's world and assist in bringing unionists based in different countries in contact with each other for meaningful discussion on strategy and policy.  Read more »

Areas of Focus:

International Solidarity

Democratic Governance

Environmental Sustainability

Global Justice

Current Projects

Labor Leaders Climate Forum
The Labor Leaders Climate Forum was officially launched on July 18-19, 2008 at the Pocantico Conference Center in Tarrytown, New York.  The forum establishes a venue for US labor union representatives to become more fully engaged in the effort to advance climate protection within a social justice framework. 

UN Green Jobs Report
In partnership with the Worldwatch Institute, the Cornell Global Labor Institute is co-authoring on a study for the United Nations Environment Programme entitled “Green Jobs: Can the Transition to Environmental Sustainability Spur New Kinds and Higher Levels of Employment.”  This report is scheduled to be released September 2008.  Click here for more details.

Global Trade Union Task Force
The Cornell Global Labor Institute has convened a 25-person Global Trade Union Task Force on Development Alternatives.  The goal of the Task Force will be to produce a report that articulates an internationalist, sustainable and needs-driven development framework from a North-South perspective.  This three year project is scheduled to conclude in June 2009.

Featured Past Event

A North American Labor Assembly on Climate Crisis: Building a Global Movement for Clean Energy

The Cornell ILR School's Global Labor Institute convened perhaps the largest ever meeting of trade union leaders and environmentalists at "The North American Labor Assembly on Climate Crisis" in New York City on May 7th and 8th, 2007. The meeting was sponsored by 10 major unions and attended by more than 200 trade unionists from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean region, as well as 50 trade unionists situated in other regions of the world. Representatives from the energy policy community and environmental organizations took the numbers of attendees past 350. Read more »

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