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Overview

As Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, our institutional experience, world-class faculty, and deep relationships with labor organizations give us a unique and comprehensive understanding of unions and labor.

Our training for union leadership draws on a wide range of research disciplines and organizational practices to equip organizers to lead with labor's values, think strategically, and build collective-bargaining skills.

Upcoming courses

Managing With Labor Values for Worker Centers and Worker Justice Organizations

Navigating a leadership role while advocating for workers' rights is undeniably challenging. Directors, organizers, and staff at worker centers and worker justice organizations face specific conditions that make their work particularly demanding, from limited funding, time, and capacity to hard campaigns to protect the most vulnerable workforce. However, it is both possible and essential for managers at worker centers and worker justice organizations to receive the necessary training to become effective leaders.


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    In-Person
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    $215
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    New York, NY

Register for Managing With Labor Values for Worker Centers and Worker Justice Organizations

Register for Managing With Labor Values for Worker Centers and Worker Justice Organizations

Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Online

Ready to make a difference in your union, organization or company? Earn your certificate and build essential leadership, negotiation and communication skills with convenient and flexible online courses. This certificate program is an affordable and rapid-results educational experience that provides skills essential to success in your organization.


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    Live Online
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    $597

Register for Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Online

Register for Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Online

Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace (online)

This tools-building workshop emphasizes the rights of stewards/committee persons in resolving disputes in the workplace. Participants will learn how to protect the grievance process, the equality principle, and how to simplify grievance writing. This online workshop is part of the four-course Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program.


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    Live Online
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    $199

Register for Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace (online)

Register for Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace (online)

Immigration and Labor Protection in the Current Labor Economy

In this two-day workshop, participants will delve into the intersection of precarious immigration status and employment, as well as current immigration policies and ongoing debates.
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    In-Person
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    $215
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    New York, NY

Register for Immigration and Labor Protection in the Current Labor Economy

Register for Immigration and Labor Protection in the Current Labor Economy

Negotiation Skills (online)

This introductory-level workshop is designed to develop the skills of union negotiators who do not have extensive experience in advancing a collective bargaining strategy. This online workshop is part of the four-course Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program, participants do not have to be online at a specific time.


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    Live Online
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    $199

Register for Negotiation Skills (online)

Register for Negotiation Skills (online)

Effective Communications At Work

This course, part of the Online Labor Studies Program, focuses on how to develop skills to improve the effectiveness of your communication relationships and enhance the quality of your life. The class will be highly participatory and include the most crucial readings on effective communications for working people.


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    Live Online
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    $625

Register for Effective Communications At Work

Register for Effective Communications At Work

Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace

This workshop emphasizes the rights of stewards/committee persons in resolving disputes in the workplace. The right to information, the duty of fair representation, and member’s right to representation will be covered. This one day workshop is part of the four-day Labor Leadership Skills Bootcamp.


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    In-Person
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    $199
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    Buffalo, NY

Register for Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace

Register for Steward Training: Problem-Solving in the Workplace

Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Boot Camp


Obtain your Basic Labor Leadership Skills Certificate with this intensive virtual boot camp that provides the specific skills essential to success in your organization. Four full exhilarating days of interactive and immersive classroom training topics including stewards, basic negotiations, costing out a contract, and effective communication.


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    In-Person
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    $597
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    Buffalo, NY

Register for Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Boot Camp

Register for Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program - Boot Camp

Negotiation Skills

This introductory-level workshop is designed to develop the skills of union negotiators who do not have extensive experience in advancing a collective bargaining strategy and in conducting face-to-face negotiations at the bargaining table. This one day workshop is part of the four-day Labor Leadership Skills Bootcamp.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
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    In-Person
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    $199
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    Buffalo, NY

Register for Negotiation Skills

Register for Negotiation Skills

Costing Out a Contract

This is a practical, how-to-workshop to give union negotiators and bargaining committee members the skills they need to prepare for contract negotiations, including illustrating how to calculate the projected costs of an agreement. This one day workshop is part of the four-day Labor Leadership Skills Bootcamp.


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    In-Person
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    $199
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    Buffalo, NY

Register for Costing Out a Contract

Register for Costing Out a Contract

Effective Communication

For anyone who wants to improve oral presentation skills in a supportive environment. Overcome reluctance to speak in public, gain tools to organize your thoughts for a more effective/powerful presentation. This one day workshop is part of the four-day Labor Leadership Skills Bootcamp.


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    In-Person
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    $199
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    Buffalo, NY

Register for Effective Communication

Register for Effective Communication

Costing Out a Contract (online)

This is a practical, how-to-workshop to give union negotiators and bargaining committee members the skills they need to prepare for contract negotiations. This online workshop is part of the four-course Labor Leadership Skills Certificate and participants do not have to be online at a specific time.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
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    Live Online
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    $199

Register for Costing Out a Contract (online)

Register for Costing Out a Contract (online)

Effective Communication (online)

For anyone who wants to improve oral presentation skills and overcome reluctance to speak in public and gain tools for more effective presentations. This online workshop is part of the four-course Labor Leadership Skills Certificate Program and participants do not have to be online at a specific time.


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    Live Online
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    $199

Register for Effective Communication (online)

Register for Effective Communication (online)

Labor History

Labor History can be understood from the perspectives of both union history and the social, cultural, and political life of workers. Here we explore not only union organizing, collective bargaining, and labor legislation, but also what workers thought, how they work and lived, and their impact on the larger society.
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    Live Online
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    $625

Register for Labor History

Register for Labor History

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