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.
Labor Leading on Climate
The U.S. Can Build the Largest Offshore Wind Industry in the World
Building a large, equitable offshore wind industry in the U.S. is an excellent opportunity for the Biden Administration and East coast states to respond to the current moment and the intersecting crises of COVID-19, climate change and inequality.
The Worker Institute hosts Climate Job New York's inaugural gala
On Sept. 24, during Climate Week, The Worker Institute at Cornell’s ILR School hosted Climate Jobs New York’s inaugural gala honoring Michael Bloomberg, James Slevin and Allison Ziogas at its Manhattan office.
New York State Announces First Major Offshore Wind Energy Awards
This afternoon at Fordham Law School, Governor Cuomo, with former vice-president, Al Gore, announced that Equinor and a joint venture of Orsted and Eversource Energy are the successful bidders in the State’s first-ever offshore wind solicitation conducted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Corporation.
The Worker Institute is leading a delegation of 15 New York labor leaders to Denmark this week to learn about the offshore wind industry. New York state is on the verge of building its first offshore wind project, according to Worker Institute Executive Director Lara Skinner, who is leading the delegation.
The Climate Jobs Now! Summit, which took place at the Cornell Club and was attended widely by labor and business leaders, focused on combatting climate change and reversing inequality in states and regions across the country.
“Our carbon footprint is a lot smaller than it could be because we move around millions of people on public transport rather than car, but mass transit is often overlooked,” said Lara Skinner, associate director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University.
Fueled by Cornell Initiative, Governor and Labor Unions Announce Climate and Jobs Program
Today’s launch of the Climate Jobs New York campaign and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement to dramatically increase the state’s efforts to combat climate change represents an historic breakthrough.
Labor Leading on Climate: Creating Good Jobs While Combating Climate Change
Skinner chairs the Labor Leading on Climate Initiative while serving as associate director of The Worker Institute. She co-authored the preliminary recommendations for an upcoming report, “Reversing Inequality, Combatting Climate Change: A Climate Jobs Program for New York State.”
“A Climate Jobs Program for New York State: Reversing Inequality, Combating Climate Change” recommends job creation and economic development strategies to drastically reduce greenhouse gas pollution and confront the climate crisis.
IBEW Local 3 Highlights Worker Institute's Climate Jobs Program
Lara Skinner, associate director of The Worker Instiute and coordinator of the Labor, Environment and Sustainable Development Initiative and Worker Institute Fellow Mijin Cha are leading a collaborative effort with IBEW Local 3 and several other unions and worker organizations ito develop a Climate Jobs Program.
On the weekend of the march, and prior to the UN Climate Summit, the Worker Institute convened a meeting of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, hosting union leaders from 12 countries and climate activists such as Naomi Klein.
Brown and Wheaton to Speak at Environmental Summit
The Worker Institute at Cornell is co-sponsoring Daemen College's annual Environmental Summit. Celebrating its ninth year, the event brings environmentally-focused organizations together to network and learn best practices from various Western New York experts.
Investing in Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery
Trade unionists, community leaders and United National agency and national delegation representatives are invited to a special meeting to network and discuss critical disaster preparedness, response and recovery issues. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, this is an opportunity to share experiences, lessons learned and best practice proposals for solutions.
"Building Partnerships and Strategies Toward Recovery and Rebuilding" at ILR's Manhattan offices brought together leaders from unions, business, community and academia to discuss strategies and policies addressing Superstorm Sandy's impact on New York City and New York state.
Union Leaders Agree on Need to Rebuild and Reform New York State's Energy System
The Worker Institute at Cornell convened key energy sector union leaders on Monday, April 15 to discuss the future of New York State's energy system. Union leaders highlighted the problems with NYS's energy system that were revealed by Hurricane Sandy.
Skinner and Sweeney attend CTA Congress to discuss new energy project
Lara Skinner and Sean Sweeney, directors of the Cornell Global Labor Institute, met with union leaders to discuss Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, a new project that was launched in New York during the October 2012 "Energy Emergency, Energy Transition" global trade union roundtable.
