At its heart, the Worker Institute views its work as a contribution to reversing the growing inequality, now at historic levels, which undermines the economic and social sustainability of a vibrant democratic society.  The Institute provides the nation’s most comprehensive education, training, research, and organizational support for union leaders and worker advocates.  Worker Institute research fellows, sometimes in small teams, will have the opportunity to work directly with Ithaca-based faculty and ILR labor extension faculty based in NYC.

The fellowship program’s goal is to provide ILR students with a unique opportunity to contribute to important projects concerning workers and unions, expand their research skills, learn about potential career paths and interact with faculty, labor leaders and other fellows.

The main selection criteria include a strong academic record and a demonstrated interest in one of the Worker Institute’s research areas. 

Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement

In 2023, then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a policy to help labor agencies carry out their enforcement mandate.  This deferred action policy provided deportation protection and work authorization to immigrant workers involved in a labor agency investigation. 

This research examines the genesis and dynamics of the program, the actors and institutions it took to implement it, and its recent dismantling in an era of enhanced immigration enforcement.   Through 130 interviews with advocates and government bureaucrats, we assess the impacts of deferred action on labor standards enforcement efforts, workers' claimsmaking, and organizing efforts.  We seek an RA to help with coding interviews, compiling case study material, and gathering scholarly sources and policy documents. – with Shannon Gleeson