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Protecting Worker Rights Under Project 2025

The Changing Landscape on Immigration Enforcement & the Need for Worker Solidarity

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Protecting Worker Rights Under Project 2025
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About the Institute

The Worker Institute at Cornell engages in research and education on contemporary labor issues, to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy and society. The institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to confront growing economic and social inequalities, in the interests of working people and their families. A core value of the Worker Institute is that collective representation and workers' rights are vital to a fair economy, robust democracy and just society.

Worker Institute

Core Offerings

The Worker Institute serves as a hub for policy research, publication, and training for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and activists engaged in the public debate to reduce economic inequality.

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Student Engagement

Student Engagement

The Worker Institute at Cornell is committed to engaging Cornell ILR undergraduate and graduate students through our coursesresearch fellowshipsgraduate programs, and other professional development opportunities.

 

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Learn more about our work with students.

ULI Spotlight: Christina Christman, President Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381, Monroe County

Christina is a Recipient of the 2024-25 NYS AFL-CIO Union L.E.A.D. Scholarship Christina says that the ULI has helped her reflect on issues such as union-busting tactics, the importance of robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, and challenges in resource allocation.
Christina Christman
ULI Spotlight: Christina Christman, President Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA 81381, Monroe County

Worker Center Innovation in Upstate New York 

On October 25th, in Syracuse, New York, more than 8 upstate organizations gathered for an event to strategize on building long-term worker power in their region.
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Worker Center Innovation in Upstate New York 

ULI Spotlight: Marvin Tavarez, Business Representative Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) Local 28

Recipient of the 2024-25 NYS AFL-CIO Union L.E.A.D. Scholarship. The ULI program has been an enlightening experience, broadening his perspective and exposing him to diverse opinions.
Marvin Tavarez
ULI Spotlight: Marvin Tavarez, Business Representative Sheet Metal Workers (SMART) Local 28

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

The Lois Gray Innovation Initiative was founded by labor pioneer Lois Gray to generate innovative thinking and solutions to problems related to work, economy, and society.

The Lois Gray Innovation Fund provide financial incentives for collaboration between resident and extension faculty in relation to priority programs of The Worker Institute.

It ensures faculty, researchers and students have the opportunity to fulfill the institute’s mission of advancing worker rights and collective representation.

 

Lois Gray, ILR School faculty member
Learn more about the Initiative