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Worker Precarity in Journalism, Academia and Computer Programming

Collective Representation as a Response to Worker Precarity

What do part-time or underemployed workers without health benefits, pensions or job security who work split shifts at a number of different locations each week have in common? They all hold a university degree, often with at least one master’s degree and/or a doctorate, but find themselves in precarious, insecure work.

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Worker Precarity in Journalism, Academia and Computer Programming
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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

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

Up to 4,000 graduate students at Harvard are poised to strike Tuesday

Boston Globe
Risa Lieberwitz, ILR professor of labor and employment law, provided expertise on the negotiating position of the Harvard graduate workers union, noting that it goes beyond a finances; for example, the union is asking for expanded protections for international students.
Up to 4,000 graduate students at Harvard are poised to strike Tuesday

Harvard University’s plan to expand writing class size draws union objection

The Times of India
Risa Lieberwitz, ILR professor of labor and employment law, shared her expertise, saying that increasing class size amounts to increasing workload, and even if increasing from 10 students to 15 students falls within an employer’s discretion, the change’s impact may require Harvard to negotiate with the union.
Harvard University’s plan to expand writing class size draws union objection

New NY Union Peer Network Brings Construction Suicide Prevention to Jobsites

ENR East
ILR’s Worker Institute is noted as a partner of the new Building Trades Support Network, which will train peer supporters to assist with improving the mental health of New York City construction workers.
New NY Union Peer Network Brings Construction Suicide Prevention to Jobsites

Pamela Anderson's Aerie Campaign Is Her Response to AI's "Unsettling" Hold On the Fashion Industry

Marie Claire
A report co-written by ILR’s Worker Institute, about how AI is affecting the careers of fashion models, is quoted in this article.
Pamela Anderson's Aerie Campaign Is Her Response to AI's "Unsettling" Hold On the Fashion Industry

Women farmworkers who built their own fight against sexual assault cope with Chavez allegations

AP News
“I can imagine when she was trying to co-create this union with him, how much it would have cost her to speak up,” said Patrica Campos-Medina, executive director of ILR’s Worker Institute, commenting on allegations of sexual abuse within the United Farm Workers movement.
Women farmworkers who built their own fight against sexual assault cope with Chavez allegations

Blog: Latest News and Events

Read more stories from the Worker Institute Blog

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

The second webinar in the Cornell ILR Worker Institute's three-part series on collective representation and worker precarity examined how e-commerce, automation, and changing supply chains contribute to worker insecurity in warehousing and logistics, and how collective organizing, legislation, and community solidarity can address these challenges.
overhead shot of warehouse worker pushing boxes with surrounding shelves of packages
Collective Representation as a Response to Worker Precarity in Logistics, Warehousing and Supply Chains

Cornell’s Last Mile Delivery Study Finds Majority of Non-Union Delivery Drivers Would Unionize

Preliminary data from Cornell’s Last Mile Delivery study finds that a majority of its non-unionized package delivery driver respondents think that their interests would be better represented by a union and would support unionization at their employers.
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Cornell’s Last Mile Delivery Study Finds Majority of Non-Union Delivery Drivers Would Unionize

The Incursion of Private Equity into New York State Home Care

Findings from a two-year research project that explores private equity’s incursion into home care in New York State, its relationship to structural racism and how agency structure shapes working conditions, worker voice and what this means for quality of care.
RWJF0930
The Incursion of Private Equity into New York State Home Care

Lois Gray Innovation Initiative 

Explore the 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.