Cornell University mobile logo
skyline of Buffalo

Latest News

See more news about Buffalo Co-Lab

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.
Icon
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.

Abstract electric blue cricles, arrows, and dots
Read the Blog
Missing alt

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.

abstract texture
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

Cross-border auto industry once against dealing with proposed tariffs

WGRZ 2
"These tariffs are very disruptive for the sector and can be very hurtful for Buffalo because we don't have an assembly plant here,” says Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, discussing the potential impact of U.S.-Canadian tariffs on the auto industry and car pricing.
Cross-border auto industry once against dealing with proposed tariffs

Pessimism, Cost of Living Are on the Rise, New York at Work Report Finds

Cornell Chronicle
Studying two decades of data collected through the Empire State Poll, researchers have found that the cost of living dominates respondents’ key concerns, eclipsing other priorities, such as the environment.
Pessimism, Cost of Living Are on the Rise, New York at Work Report Finds

UAW and Deere set to clash amid AI sales boom

Axios
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides expert commentary on the UAW’s labor negotiations with Deere.
UAW and Deere set to clash amid AI sales boom

New York wages fail to match inflation as cost of living dominates: Cornell polling

localsyr.com
Insight into New Yorkers’ economic concerns, household income and public trust from two decades of data is in the 2026 edition of the Empire State Poll report from ILR’s Center for Applied Research on Work.
New York wages fail to match inflation as cost of living dominates: Cornell polling

Autotown Radio 12: Mike Austin, Art Wheaton, Elena Ciccotelli

Apple Podcasts
Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, shares updates and analysis of recent union news relating to automakers in Canada and the U.S., and he discusses the upcoming UAW presidential election.
Autotown Radio 12: Mike Austin, Art Wheaton, Elena Ciccotelli

DOJ Probe Stands to Undercut UAW Election, Organizing Goals

Bloomberg Law
“To me, I don’t know what he did that was criminal, and I don’t know what he did in terms of anything that could result in huge punishment,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, discussing current allegations against UAW President Shawn Fain.
DOJ Probe Stands to Undercut UAW Election, Organizing Goals