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States' Response to Weakening of Federal Labor Protections Examined in Co-Lab Learning Session

Cornell ILR and Hayes Dolce, LLC labor law experts share trends in unionizations across the U.S. and opportunities for labor law reform in New York State.
cathy presenting slide with question asking percent of unionized workforce in 2025
States' Response to Weakening of Federal Labor Protections Examined in Co-Lab Learning Session

Community-Engaged Learning Celebrated, Buffalo Co-Lab Honored

Cornell Chronicle
ILR School’s Buffalo Co-Lab has played a vital role in western New York, working in partnership with business, union, government, education and community organizations.
ILR Buffalo Co-Lab celebration event, "Education in Action"
Community-Engaged Learning Celebrated, Buffalo Co-Lab Honored

What Does the Future of Cars, Travel, and Work Look Like?

In this insightful episode of Research Matters, Arthur Wheaton, director of labor studies, dives into the future of cars, travel, and work – from tariffs and EV transitions to autonomous vehicles and union impacts.
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A screenshot of Art Wheaton on the Research Matters podcast.
What Does the Future of Cars, Travel, and Work Look Like?

High Road Fellowships

Summer 2026 Application will open November 22!

Engaged learning and applied research fellowships for Cornell students in Buffalo, NY.

Find out more

Research and Policy

High Road Policy

An ILR Buffalo Co-Lab Initiative

High Road Policy contributes actionable insights to contemporary policy and political discourses in and beyond the regions and communities of Upstate New York.

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Read the Blog
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Good DEEDS

Data for Equitable Economic Development and Sustainability, or Good DEEDS, is an initiative of the Cornell University School of Industrial Labor Relations (ILR) Buffalo Co-Lab. When fully operational, Good DEEDS will function as a public data repository coupled with High Road Policy, a quarterly issue memorandum and continuous blog.

Learn more about Good DEEDS

2024-25 NY at Work cover

Buffalo Co-Lab NYS Impact

We are pleased announce several reports that draws upon our ILR expertise, research-based data and policy analysis on a broad range of issues affecting NYS workers, unions, communities and employers. These reports intend to serve as an informative, accessible and relevant resource for New York's policy makers and others. We hope that you find them useful and look forward to engaging with you to advance the important work that you do related to work, employment and labor.

2019 High Roaders at Northland Workforce Training Center

Student Opportunities

We offer two paid fellowship programs in Buffalo as well as courses on our Ithaca Campus.

  • High Road Fellowships
  • Democracy Summer Fellowships
  • On-Campus courses

Learn more

Education and Training

We offer programs designed to train union leaders and those aspiring to lead in organized labor relations.

We also offer specialized training in Health and Safety for inspection and risk assessment, as well as information for practitioners to create safe work places.

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Learn more about our programs

Programs for Unions and Labor Professionals

These courses and certificates are designed to train union leaders and those aspiring to lead in organized labor relations.

Learn more about training for unions and labor professionals

Workplace Health and Safety

Scientific and Technical Expertise Applied to the Work Environment

Workplace Health and Safety
Learn more about programs in workplace health and safety

In The News

Media Mentions

How UAW’s Bold Leader Got Caught in New Wave of Union Infighting

Wall Street Journal
“If he gets re-elected by large numbers, I think it will start to rattle GM, Ford and Stellantis a little bit more,” says Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, commenting on the possible impact if UAW President Shawn Fain is re-elected this fall.
How UAW’s Bold Leader Got Caught in New Wave of Union Infighting

Federal monitor says UAW head Shawn Fain abused authority; Fain denies findings

CNBC
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides analysis of the possible consequences of federal oversight actions against UAW President Shawn Fain.
Federal monitor says UAW head Shawn Fain abused authority; Fain denies findings

The moment tensions erupted between UAW's Fain, federal monitor

The Miami Herald
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, points out a range of possible disciplinary actions that could be imposed on UAW President Shawn Fain, based on a recent federal monitor’s report. [Syndicated from The Detroit News]
The moment tensions erupted between UAW's Fain, federal monitor

Federal monitor says UAW head Fain abused authority; Fain denies findings

Reuters
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, says it is unlikely that UAW President Shawn Fain will face severe disciplinary action, or be unable to run for re-election, following recent findings from a federally appointed watchdog.
Federal monitor says UAW head Fain abused authority; Fain denies findings

Public library workers finally have a new union contract

The Ithaca Voice
Wage adjustments in the newly ratified contract for Tompkins Country Public Library workers were guided by the “Tompkins County Living Wage Study,” which was co-developed by ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab and Ithaca Co-Lab and estimates the Tompkins County living wage for a single adult without children at $25.08 per hour.
Public library workers finally have a new union contract

UAW gathers in Detroit as Fain faces challengers, scrutiny

The Miami Herald
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, analyzes Shawn Fain’s chances of succeeding in his re-election bid to remain president of the UAW after the upcoming October election. [Syndicated from The Detroit News]
UAW gathers in Detroit as Fain faces challengers, scrutiny