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Upcoming Events

Project Labor Agreements & the NYC Tree Planting Program

A Win for New York City Workers, Businesses, and Communities

Central Park's lush green lawn with the NYC skyline in the background
Project Labor Agreements & the NYC Tree Planting Program

The Incursion of Private Equity into Home Care

Findings on the effect of private equity on quality work and care

A homecare worker helping elderly woman walk
The Incursion of Private Equity into Home Care

Collective Representation as Response to Worker Precarity in Logistics, Warehousing and Supply Chains

Please join the Worker Institute for the second of a three-part series of webinars exploring worker precarity across different industries in the United States. This time, we will examine the nature of precarious work in logistics and warehousing as critical components of our supply chains. Together, warehousing and logistics ensure a seamless flow of goods through the supply chain, bridging the gap between production and consumption.

overhead shot of warehouse worker pushing boxes with surrounding shelves of packages
Collective Representation as Response to Worker Precarity in Logistics, Warehousing and Supply Chains
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About the Institute

About us

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. Learn more about all of our offerings.

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 is committed to engaging Cornell ILR undergraduate and graduate students through our courses, research fellowships, graduate programs and other professional development opportunities.

 

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Learn more about our work with students.

In the News

Media Mentions

Cornell study shows impact of immigrant workers on New York economy and communities

WBNG
The economic and community impact of immigrant workers with Temporary Protected Status in New York state is the focus of a new report from ILR’s Worker Institute, called “We Are Home: Workers with TPS Belong Here.”
Cornell study shows impact of immigrant workers on New York economy and communities

Cornell report shows immigrant, temporary workers contribute to NY economy

FingerLakes1.com
A new report from ILR’s Worker Institute found that immigrants in New York with Temporary Protected Status have strong attachments to their New York communities, are highly engaged in civic and political organizations and view the United States as their home.
Cornell report shows immigrant, temporary workers contribute to NY economy

Workers With Temporary Protected Status Aid NYS’s Economy, Society

Cornell Chronicle
Central Americans with TPS status make significant contributions to New York’s economy and civic and political organizations, an ILR School report says.
Workers With Temporary Protected Status Aid NYS’s Economy, Society

Morning Report: A rough start to the new U.S.-Iran deal

Marketplace
“Diversity is always good business practice, because you bring different voices to a problem … That’s what we’re missing by not being able to track it,” says Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, about the dropped EEOC requirement for federal agencies to report certain demographic data.
Morning Report: A rough start to the new U.S.-Iran deal

Inside Rainbow's AI clash with its fashion models

Business Insider
A report from ILR’s Worker Institute is quoted in this article about how the use of artificial intelligence by Rainbow, a fashion retailer, has impacted models.
Inside Rainbow's AI clash with its fashion models

NYC building trades launches peer support network for construction workers

America’s Workforce Union Podcast
This podcast describes the essential role played by ILR’s Worker Institute in creating and supporting the new NYC Building Trades Peer Support Network, and it discusses the need for the network and how it will reduce suicide attempts and improve the mental health of construction workers.
NYC building trades launches peer support network for construction workers

Blog: Latest News and Events

Read more stories from the Worker Institute Blog

Cornell’s Empire State Poll Finds New Yorkers Concerned about the Cost of Living and the New York State Economy

Cornell's Empire State Poll data shows that 43% of New York State residents consider cost of living to be the most important issue facing the state, up from 29% in 2024. Respondents indicated substantial concern about the state's economy over the past year and looking to the future.
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Cornell’s Empire State Poll Finds New Yorkers Concerned about the Cost of Living and the New York State Economy

Singaporean Labor Leaders Visit the Worker Institute

On June 29, the Worker Institute hosted a delegation of Singaporean labor leaders representing the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
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Singaporean Labor Leaders Visit the Worker Institute

Worker Center Leaders Come Together to Build Power in Syracuse, NY

This spring, worker center leaders and worker justice organizations from across Upstate New York came together in Syracuse for an in-person gathering of the Upstate Worker Center Hub, a project of the Worker Institute at ILR Cornell. 
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Worker Center Leaders Come Together to Build Power in Syracuse, NY

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

Lois Gray, ILR School faculty member

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.

Explore the initiative