Skip to main content
abstract texture

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

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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Apr 1 - 21, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199


Register for Negotiation Skills (online)

Register for Negotiation Skills (online)

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
    May 1 - 21, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199


Register for Costing Out a Contract (online)

Register for Costing Out a Contract (online)

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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 7, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 7 - 10, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $597
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    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
    May 8, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 9, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 10, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    Buffalo, NY


Register for Effective Communication

Register for Effective Communication

Leadership in Unions

Part of the Online Labor Studies Program this for-credit class prepares participants for assuming responsibilities in their organization by developing the skills and abilities required of union leaders. Each participant will prepare a plan for improving how their local union functions.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 28 - Jul 30, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $625

Register for Leadership in Unions

Register for Leadership in Unions

Managing Internal Union Conflict

This program allows busy union activists to take college credit courses regardless of location or work schedules. An introduction to dispute resolution theory and practice, this course examines the nature and sources of conflict and the role of negotiations, mediation, arbitration and fact-finding in the resolution of disputes.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    May 28 - Jul 30, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $625

Register for Managing Internal Union Conflict

Register for Managing Internal Union Conflict

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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Jun 3 - 23, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199


Register for Effective Communication (online)

Register for Effective Communication (online)

Union’s Role in the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices

From the #MeToo movement, to the surge of anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination—unions face the challenge of how to tackle the impact of sexual harassment and gender-based violence on their members. The roots of gender discrimination and sexual violence are deeply embedded in workplace culture, as our workplaces are microcosms of society. Workers hold multiple dimensions of identity, and the intersection of these identities shapes the experience, impact, choice of strategy, and fear of retaliation when confronting these issues.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Jun 5 - 7, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $300
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    New York, NY


Register for Union’s Role in the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices

Register for Union’s Role in the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices

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.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 9 - 29, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $199

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

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

Private Sector Labor Law

Part of the Online Labor Studies Program this course surveys the major areas of the law as it applies to workers and unions in the private sector. Students will concentrate on major provisions of the NLRB, examining how NLRB and Federal Courts have interpreted the national labor laws.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 16 - Dec 2, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $625

Register for Private Sector Labor Law

Register for Private Sector Labor Law

Contract Administration

The contract lies at the center of day-to-day union practice. How can union leaders and rank and file members ensure that the contract is honored and not circumvented? Students in this online for-credit course will learn how to resolve problems that are contract-based by effectively utilizing grievance procedures.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 16 - Dec 2, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $625

Register for Contract Administration

Register for Contract Administration

Introduction to Collective Bargaining

Part of the Online Labor Studies Program, this course examines the principles of contract bargaining including bargaining environments and standards used in negotiations. Students will learn to prepare bargaining demands, cost economic items, draft non-economic language, negotiate economic and non-economic issues, and resolve a bargaining impasse.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 16 - Dec 2, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Live Online
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $625

Register for Introduction to Collective Bargaining

Register for Introduction to Collective Bargaining

Managing With Labor's Values - Part 1: Helping Your Staff to Succeed

This workshop provides a good foundation for supervising and managing with labor’s values. This workshop focuses on understanding different behavioral styles at work and how to adapt when conflicting styles cause misunderstandings, unproductive efforts, and impede progress on reaching goals.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 17 - 18, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $950
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    New York, NY


Register for Managing With Labor's Values - Part 1: Helping Your Staff to Succeed

Register for Managing With Labor's Values - Part 1: Helping Your Staff to Succeed

Managing with Labor's Values - Parts 1 & 2

It is critical that managers at unions and social justice organizations receive training to become effective leaders and make the best use of limited resources. Participants learn techniques for helping their staff succeed and respond appropriately to common issues while honoring the values of the labor movement.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Sep 17 - Oct 17, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $1700
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    New York, NY


Register for Managing with Labor's Values - Parts 1 & 2

Register for Managing with Labor's Values - Parts 1 & 2

Managing With Labor's Values - Part 2: Building Accountability

This workshop focuses on understanding different behavioral styles at work and how to adapt when conflicting styles cause misunderstandings, unproductive efforts, and impede progress on reaching goals.  This is Part 2 of a workshop series on Managing With Labor's Values.


  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    Oct 16 - 17, 2024
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    In-Person
  • Circle with checkmark Icon
    $950
  • Circle with checkmark Icon

    New York, NY


Register for Managing With Labor's Values - Part 2: Building Accountability

Register for Managing With Labor's Values - Part 2: Building Accountability

Stay Connected

Receive updates to follow your interests.

Areas of Interest