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Sexual harassment at work can cost survivors up to $1.3 million over a lifetime

Market watch
New report from Worker Institute partner , Times Up! identifies the financial and economic tolls that workplace sexual harassment takes on survivors themselves
Times Up Protest
Sexual harassment at work can cost survivors up to $1.3 million over a lifetime

Why Texas fossil fuel unions signed onto a climate plan

Grist
Skinner, Labor Leading on Climate Director, says “there’s been a real focus on the carbon impact of proposals and not enough emphasis on what type of jobs are these activities going to create, what are the quality of these jobs, are they actually going to help reverse inequality.”
Gist Article
Why Texas fossil fuel unions signed onto a climate plan

Canary in the Mine: Striking Miners in Alabama

The American Prospect
Zach Cunningham, from the Cornell ILR School’s Worker Institute, proposes focusing on making the transition to renewable-energy sources one that provides good-paying jobs, rather than a narrative of “good jobs versus the environment.”
Striking Coal Miners
Canary in the Mine: Striking Miners in Alabama

Canary in the Mine: Striking Miners in Alabama

The American Prospect
According to Zach Cunningham, education and training extension associate at the Worker Institute, the transition to renewable-energy sources can provide good-paying jobs “if workers and unions fight for them to be good jobs.”
Canary in the Mine: Striking Miners in Alabama

Energy transition could create 1.1 million jobs in Texas, report says

Lara Skinner, Director of Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, provided insight into the number of jobs that could be created in various aspects of growing the renewable energy and climate tech industries in Texas.
HoustonChroniclepic
Energy transition could create 1.1 million jobs in Texas, report says

Laundry workers essential in pandemic but shut out from benefits

A report released this week on the working conditions of retail laundry workers found that many lack knowledge of their workplace rights and have been victims of wage theft, discrimination and unsafe working conditions.
Laundry workers
Laundry workers essential in pandemic but shut out from benefits

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

‘WE ALL QUIT’: How America’s Workers Are Taking Back Their Power

VICE News
"It's an act of protest against abuses and exploitative conditions," said Patricia Campos Medina, executive director of the Worker's Institute at Cornell University. "It’s a sense of empowerment that workers don’t have to tolerate that kind of abuse."
McDonalds hiring $15 an hour
‘WE ALL QUIT’: How America’s Workers Are Taking Back Their Power

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.
Restaurant worker wearing a face mask holds an "Open" sign
Brown Offers Best Practice Advice During Pandemic

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

A Just Transition?

Inside Climate News
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.
Aroldo Garcia discusses a major offshore wind development coming to Brooklyn with Summer Sandoval, a campaigner with the environmental justice group UPROSE.
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.
Organizers protesting n the south
How You Win in the South

Biden Gender Policy Council leaders: We must fix the caregiving crisis COVID has created for women

Fortune
Op-ed in Fortune by the co-chairs of the White House Gender Policy Council cites the Foundations for a Just and Inclusive Recovery report by the Worker Institute.
Women Caregivers
Biden Gender Policy Council leaders: We must fix the caregiving crisis COVID has created for women

Fighting Back: Apps Kept City Restaurants and Gig Workers Afloat During the Pandemic, But Now They Want More

wnyc
The Worker Institute's Maria Figueroa speaks to WNYC about how New York City restaurants became heavily reliant on third-party delivery services during the pandemic.
WNYC logo
Fighting Back: Apps Kept City Restaurants and Gig Workers Afloat During the Pandemic, But Now They Want More

Could an Alabama Union Election at Amazon Start a Labor Wave?

Worker Institute Executive Director, Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina, is quoted in Nonprofit Quarterly on unionization efforts at Amazon in Alabama.
Union Now Graffitti
Could an Alabama Union Election at Amazon Start a Labor Wave?

Amazon Covid-19 Lawsuit Spotlights State Regulatory Power

Bloomberg Law
OSHA’s existing rules do not equate to a COVID-19 standard, says the Worker Institute's Nellie Brown in Bloomberg News.
NYS Attorney General
Amazon Covid-19 Lawsuit Spotlights State Regulatory Power

Behind the Camera with Tsering Lama: Documenting Domestic Workers Fight for Rights

Profile of New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute (ULI) and WE RISE graduate Tsering Lama on CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Blog.
Tsering Lama
Behind the Camera with Tsering Lama: Documenting Domestic Workers Fight for Rights

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

Patricia Campos-Medina announced as WI Executive Director

As of January 1st, 2021 Patricia Campos-Medina, will serve as Executive Director of The Worker Institute alongside Academic Director, Ileen DeVault.

Picture of Patricia Campos Medina
Patricia Campos-Medina announced as WI Executive Director

Food Delivery Apps Are Booming. Their Workers Are Often Struggling.

The New York Times
Maria Figueroa, Worker Institute expert on gig economy is quoted in New York Times on impact of the pandemic on food delivery workers.
Bike Delivery Worker with a Mask
Food Delivery Apps Are Booming. Their Workers Are Often Struggling.

Lara Skinner Named to Just Transition Working Group

Lara Skinner, executive director of The Worker Institute at the Cornell University ILR School has been named to the Just Transition Working Group that will support the implementation of New York state’s national leading climate law.

Missing alt
Lara Skinner Named to Just Transition Working Group

Patricia Campos-Medina Joins the Worker Institute Leadership Team

Patricia Campos-Medina, will serve as co-Executive Director of The Worker Institute alongside current Executive Director, Lara Skinner, and Academic Director, Ileen DeVault, beginning September 7, 2020.

Photo of Patricia Campos Medina and Lara Skinner
Patricia Campos-Medina Joins the Worker Institute Leadership Team

The Ithaca Voice's Guide to Tompkins County school reopening

The Ithaca Voice
“Schools are not accustomed to looking at their buildings from the standpoint of communicable disease,” says Nellie Brown, Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs at the Worker Institute in an interview with the Ithaca Voice.
Ithaca Voice Logo
The Ithaca Voice's Guide to Tompkins County school reopening

Returning Workers Still Question Workplace Safety As Pandemic Continues

With more workers making their way back to their jobs, some provided an update about their recent experiences during a joint panel discussion and press event hosted by The Worker Institute and ROC United.
ROC NY Worker in a cafe
Returning Workers Still Question Workplace Safety As Pandemic Continues

Little known unemployment program is helping businesses avoid layoffs

WCNY
In an effort to prevent layoffs amidst this tumultuous economic situation, many states including New York have embraced a shared work system. Maria Figueroa, Director of Labor and Policy Research at the Cornell ILR School, explained how the system works.
Sign on store saying "Sorry we're closed"
Little known unemployment program is helping businesses avoid layoffs

State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Are "A Skeleton" To Be Adapted To Specific Buildings

wicz fox 40
Nellie Brown speaks with Fox 40 Brown about school reopening, noting school buildings aren't exactly designed with the transmission of communicable diseases in mind and that each building will present its own host of problems.
Fox 40 Coronavirus Coverage
State Guidelines For Reopening Schools Are "A Skeleton" To Be Adapted To Specific Buildings

School Boards Worry About Time, Money When It Comes to Reopening

Spectrum
Nellie Brown speaks with Spectrum News about schools reopening and recommends districts first put together a joint labor-management committee that includes the school nurse, the district’s attorney, the HVAC folks, teachers, staff, and administration.
Capital Tonight News Program
School Boards Worry About Time, Money When It Comes to Reopening

Can schools safely reopen? Cornell University Health and Safety Director weighs in

localsyr.com
Nellie Brown speaks with Local SYR on the adaptations that schools need to make to reopen safely and the logistical and financial barriers that will entail.
Can Schools Reopen Safely News Story
Can schools safely reopen? Cornell University Health and Safety Director weighs in

NY’s detailed school rules: Masks, temperature checks, 6-foot distance, sports on hold

syracuse.com
Nellie Brown speaks with Syracuse News on the difficulties of opening schools, including pointing out that some of the options that are best for safety, like sending kids for half days so they are spaced out as much as possible, may create burdens for families.
Noah Davis, 4, and his brother Able, 2, were among the children and parents that went to Bellevue Elementary School Tuesday, March 17, 2020 to pick up school lunches and homework as schools are closed in the Syracuse School District due to the coronavirus.N. Scott Trimble
NY’s detailed school rules: Masks, temperature checks, 6-foot distance, sports on hold

Cuomo studies, malls wait for instructions on air filters

Times Union News
Nellie Brown speaks with the Time Union on the complications of installing HEPA or MERV filters and the need for ventilation fans in large buildings that are powerful enough to circulate air through high-density filters.
Safety signs are seen on the doors at Crossgates Mall.  Lori Van Buren / Times Union
Cuomo studies, malls wait for instructions on air filters