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Worker Institute Blog

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The Worker Institute brings together researchers, educators and students with practitioners in labor, business and policymaking to address issues related to confronting systemic inequality and building a fair economy, robust democracy and just society. We will share opinion, analysis, research, data, insights and training from our faculty and staff. 

Addressing Inequality

See all stories about addressing inequality

What’s Ahead for Teachers?

A year after COVID-19 disrupted education, Dean Alex Colvin and Randi Weingarten ’80 will discuss the future of K-12 teaching.
A female teacher wearing a mask puts hand sanitizer on a student
What’s Ahead for Teachers?

Labor Standards Can Help Us Build Back Better

The Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate team examines the American Jobs Plan and explains why the built-in labor standards are critical to the proposal’s success.
Labor Standards
Labor Standards Can Help Us Build Back Better

Cunningham Facilitates LI Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Training

Zach Cunningham, Training and Education Extension Associate, delivers Climate Change and Offshore Wind (OSW) Training to LiUNA members on Long Island.
Union members listening to Offshore Wind training presentation
Cunningham Facilitates LI Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Training

Lifting Worker Voices

See all stories in Lifting Worker Voices

Profile of a Platform-Worker

Profile of a platform worker Espen Utne Landgraff, who lives and works in Oslo, Norway by journalist E. Tammy Kim.
Drawing of Espen Utne Landgraff by Molly Crabapple
Profile of a Platform-Worker

NLLI Facebook Live Interview Montserrat Garibay

National Labor Leadership Initiative Facebook Live Series: "How are NLLI Leaders Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis." Jennifer Beuthin interviewing Montserrat Garibay, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO, Wednesday, July 15th.
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NLLI Facebook Live Interview Montserrat Garibay

NLLI Facebook Live Interview Siobhan Vipond

National Labor Leadership Initiative Facebook Live Series: "How are NLLI Leaders Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis." Jennifer Beuthin interviewing Siobhan Vipond, Secretary-Treasurer, Alberta Labour Federation. Wednesday, July 8th, 2020.
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NLLI Facebook Live Interview Siobhan Vipond

Cornell Union Leadership Institute Student Survives Covid-19

Gene Carroll, Co-Director of the NYS AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute (ULI) writes on an experience of a member of the current Institute class who contracted COVID-19
Robert Kelley
Cornell Union Leadership Institute Student Survives Covid-19

NLLI Facebook Live Interview Mark Lauritsen

National Labor Leadership Initiative Facebook Live Series: "How are NLLI Leaders Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis." Kathleen Mulligan interviewing Mark Lauritsen, International Vice President of UFCW, NLLI Alum Year 2, May 19th, 2020.
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NLLI Facebook Live Interview Mark Lauritsen

Interview with Zaborah Roane, a childcare professional for over 20 years

Zaborah Roane has worked as a childcare professional for over 20 years. She is a member of the NDWA and a leader of We Dream in Black’s Raleigh chapter, a project of the NDWA to empower Black domestic workers.
Zaborah Roane
Interview with Zaborah Roane, a childcare professional for over 20 years

Labor Solidarity and Racial Injustice

See all stories in Labor Solidarity and Racial Injustice

Opinion – All Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Citizenship – Not Just Essential Workers

Shannon Gleeson outlines the situation faced by undocumented workers, and discusses potential futures for them including pathways to citizenship and their relationship.
man wearing a mask and high-vis vest riding a delivery bike
Opinion – All Undocumented Immigrants Deserve Citizenship – Not Just Essential Workers

The Intervention White America Needs

Tristan Ivory, Assistant Professor, International and Comparative Labor, writes about the history that led to this moment and direct actions to address systemic racism and poverty.
Protesters hold a sign saying "Boiling Point" during protests against the killing of George Floyd.
The Intervention White America Needs

About Violence and Resistance

Risa L. Lieberwitz, Professor of Labor and Employment Law, writes about the meaning and history of violence and resistance.
Photos of Tributes to Eric Gardner and Michael Brown.
About Violence and Resistance

WI in the News

See all Worker Institute News Stories

Brown Offers Best Practice Advice During Pandemic

Many businesses in varied industries, along with organizations such as the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, turned to Nellie Brown for guidance on adjusting practices and policies during the pandemic.
Brown Offers Best Practice Advice During Pandemic

A Just Transition?

Inside Climate News logo
Lara Skinner, Director of the Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate, provides insight on the importance of including labor standards on clean energy work.
A Just Transition?

How You Win in the South

National Labor Leadership Initiative (NLLI) alum, MaryBe McMillan, President of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO, was interviewed by franknews and Payday Report on organizing and collective bargaining in the South.
How You Win in the South

Events

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Worker Institute Co-Hosts Buffalo Co-Lab High Road Policy Summit

The ILR Buffalo Co-Lab hosted the High Road Policy Summit on Friday, May 14, 2021. The summit focused on the different ways community stakeholders could come together to promote an equitable economy.
Buffalo Mural
Worker Institute Co-Hosts Buffalo Co-Lab High Road Policy Summit

Closing Plenary: Labor in the 21st Century National Conference

The closing plenary’s three featured speakers -- Ariel Avgar, Erica Smiley, and Elizabeth Shuler -- discussed the future of the Labor Movement and the role of ILR, activists, and unions in it.
Worker with a mask in a restaurant
Closing Plenary: Labor in the 21st Century National Conference

Worker Institute hosts National Virtual Conference on Labor in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities

On March 26, 2021, the ILR school celebrated its 75th anniversary by hosting a National Virtual Conference on Labor in the 21st Century Challenges and Opportunities: A Worker-Centered Economic Recovery, A Changing Legal and Regulatory Environment, A Contested Political Terrain.
Package Delivery Worker
Worker Institute hosts National Virtual Conference on Labor in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities

News

See all Worker Institute Latest News

Carroll Helped Develop Leaders

Gene Carroll leaves a legacy of educating current and future labor and social justice leaders.
Gene Carroll speaking at a rally.
Carroll Helped Develop Leaders

Cunningham Facilitates Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind Training

Worker Institute Extension Associate Zach Cunningham delivers virtual training to staff and member-leaders from NYSNA and Locals 1199 and 32BJ.
OSW Training
Cunningham Facilitates Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind Training

Statement from Worker Institute Extension Faculty Kim Cook on recent passing of AFL-CIO President Emeritus John Sweeney

The faculty and staff at The Worker Institute, ILR-Cornell honors his legacy by re-committing to the work of advancing collective bargaining rights and economic justice for all workers.

Photo of John Sweeney
Statement from Worker Institute Extension Faculty Kim Cook on recent passing of AFL-CIO President Emeritus John Sweeney

Reports and Publications

See all WI reports and publications

Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate launches report that examines the crises of inequality and climate change in Texas and makes a series of “climate jobs” recommendations that can help Texas simultaneously combat climate change, create high-quality jobs, and build more equitable and resilient communities.
Tx Report
Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

Washing for Dignity and Safety on the Job:  Workers in the NJ Retail Laundromat Industry

A new report by the Laundry Workers Center and the Cornell ILR Worker Institute examines the work and socio-economic conditions of workers in the retail laundromat industry in New Jersey.  
Cartoon about wage theft
Washing for Dignity and Safety on the Job:  Workers in the NJ Retail Laundromat Industry

Making Care Systems More Equitable

In collaboration with the Gender Policy Report, researchers at the The Worker Institute co-authored a new report that provides guidance on several measures and principles they say should be built into any new child care, long-term care and health care investments in order to drive greater equity.
Exhausted Black nurse during COVID
Making Care Systems More Equitable

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