Buffalo Co-Lab

A presentation of the 2026 “Tompkins County Living Wage Study” from ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab and Ithaca Co-Lab was given in Ithaca on April 8 by Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, and Ian Greer, research professor and director of ILR’s Ithaca Co-Lab.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, points out that the recent Chattanooga union member approval of their contract with Volkswagen could give the UAW momentum for organizing efforts elsewhere.

“It’s something to talk about, think about and argue for, argue against,” said Ian Greer, research professor and director of ILR’s Ithaca Co-Lab, discussing the 2026 Tompkins County Living Wage study, which he co-wrote with Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab.

“It's disproportionately black and brown workers. Black workers have an almost a 75% probability making less than a living wage,” said Ian Greer, research professor and director of ILR’s Ithaca Co-Lab, about Tompkins County’s 2026 living wage study, which was produced by ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab and Ithaca Co-Lab.

A study co-authored by the ILR Ithaca Co-Lab and the ILR Buffalo Co-Lab is mentioned in this article about Tompkins County discussions about increasing the county’s minimum wage over the New York state rate.

“Just as a 10,000-foot view, one is trained in law enforcement, and the other is not, and then one has a firearm and one does not,” said Cathy Creighton, director of the ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, about workers at the Transportation Security Administration versus workers at Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, comments on problems that might arise due to workers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staffing airport security screening areas.

“We can expect TSA job shortages to continue and grow as a result of the shabby treatment these workers have endured,” said Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, commenting on the possible impact of the freeze on govern-ment funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“It removes a lot of the rules and barriers that were put in place to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, about recent changes to U.S. fuel efficiency regulations for vehicles.

When discussing the contract now being voted on by workers at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, noted “I think that would be a huge, huge boost for the workers and for the community if they can have more job security.”

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides expert commentary on the potential impact of rolling back steel and aluminum tariffs.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides insight into the dispute between the Teamsters Union and UPS over the Driver’s Choice Program.

“You should have some stretch goals, whether they’re attainable or not,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, as he commented on the Feb. 9 speech by UAW President Shawn Fain to the UAW national political conference.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, discusses the significance of the tentative contract agreement at the UAW’s first unionized, foreign-owned factory in the South.

Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, comments on the likely effect of less accurate consumer price index data on people whose income is tied to cost-of-living changes.

Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, comments on the likely impact and risks of a worker joining a nationwide strike against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Cathy Creighton, director of the ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, discusses the unprecedented nature of recent actions by the federal government against unionized workers.

“It’s just another bump in the road,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, about Ford’s adjusting its EV product strategy to respond to changes in EV policy and consumer needs.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, comments on the successes and management style of UAW President Shawn Fain.

“It’s a brutal market,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, commenting on market conditions for electric vehicles in the U.S.

Cathy Creighton, director of the ILR Buffalo Co-Lab and a former attorney at the National Labor Relations Board, explains how the lack of a quorum at the board could hinder union organizing efforts.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, comments on the progress and challenges facing the UAW’s reform efforts.

Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo co-lab, shares her expertise about unions and comments on the resilience of Starbucks workers.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides context on why unions may object to driverless vehicles.

“It is a recipe for disaster to continue adding pressure to an already problematic and excruciating job,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, commenting on the work of air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.

“The struggle and collective organising and action of tenants has played a larger historical role in housing policy in NYC than in most other places in the United States,” said Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, analyzing New York City’s housing policies and mayoral race.

Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, discusses the new “NYS Federal Impact Interactive Map” on this radio interview/transcript.

The Buffalo Co-Lab’s new “NYS Federal Impact Interactive Map” that tracks the economic impact of federal policy changes on New York is the focus of this article.