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. 

Tracking Changes in Organizer Background

For the last forty years, Professor Kate Bronfenbrenner has conducted multiple studies of union organizing in the private and public sector; both Board supervised elections under the NLRB, NMB, and state and local labor boards and card check campaigns and voluntary recognitions outside of the Board process.  Most of these studies included data on organizer background, such as race, gender, age, education, training, union experience, prior occupation, and union position. A few also had data on first contract negotiator background.  For this project, students will assist in combining these longitudinal data and analyzing changes in organizer background over time and the relationship between organizer background and organizing and first contract outcomes, controlling for company, industry, and union characteristics. In addition, students will review published writings and archival documents to find information on organizer background prior to the 1980s. As part of the project, students will get training and experience in data management, analysis, and reporting, and archival research. – with Professor Kate Bronfenbrenner