Buffalo Co-Lab

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.

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.

“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.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, is quoted about the upcoming UAW presidential election. [Syndicated from The Detroit News]

“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.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, provides analysis of the possible consequences of federal oversight actions against UAW President Shawn Fain.

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]

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.

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.

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]

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, offers context for understanding the recent vote to unionize by workers at Schnellecke Logistics in Tennessee and discusses potential complications caused by recent changes at the federal level in the National Labor Relations Board.

“I would not underestimate the ability of Shawn Fain to make gains at the table,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, commenting on the strike at the Dauch Corp. plant in Three Rivers, Michigan (Dauch Corp. is formerly known as American Axle).

UAW workers at American Axle, who recently authorized a strike, have leverage in the current political environment, where heavy truck sales are increasing due to the elimination of EPA restrictions on emissions and fuel economy, says Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, explains how pattern bargaining in the Long Island Rail Road workers’ dispute could affect future union negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

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.

“You get what you pay for,” said Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, commenting on the possibility of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority using a fare increase to fund a pay raise for Long Island Rail Road workers.

Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, shares expertise on the importance of early childhood education and comments on the state-funded Broome County universal childcare pilot program.

The median living wage figure for upstate workers sits at roughly $23.50 an hour, according to Russell Weaver, director of research at ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, whose research and recommendations are noted in this article.

“There’s a big gap between what we would think of as maybe a more equitable minimum wage, where workers are sharing in the productivity that they’re creating, and the regulatory minimum wage,” said Russell Weaver, ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab director of research, sharing his expertise.

Art Wheaton, ILR director of labor studies, comments on how uncertainty in the airline industry affects planning efforts for airline CEOs.

Cathy Creighton, director of ILR’s Buffalo Co-Lab, discusses Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

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.