Public Employee Press

Cornell labor school celebrates 60th anniversary

In 1947, Cornell University and New York State established the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Over the last 60 years, ILR programs across the state have gone from innovative extras to anessential component of the labor movement. Faculty, administrators, alumni, students and friends gathered Nov. 15 to celebrate that rich legacy.

Labor leaders, including DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, joined the festivities, and were acknowledged for their many contributions.

In addition to the other honorees on the program, DC 37 member Natasha Isma was one of the evening’s “unsung heroes.” In 2007, ILR’s anniversary year, Isma was a rank-and-file leader in the organizing drive that led to union representation and their first contract for workers at the Metro Plus Health Plan. For her work in organizing the Enrollment Sales Representatives into DC 37’s Clerical-Administrative Local 1549, Cornell honored Isma with its Jessica Govea Thorbourne Courage Award.

The DC 37 Education Fund works closely with the Cornell programs and Fund Administrator Barbara Kairson was on-hand to celebrate. “For the past 60 years, Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations has worked to educate workers,” she said. “Today, as labor unions strive to organize and grow stronger, we are fortunate to have an institution like Cornell to continue to bring knowledge to emerging labor leaders and rank-and-file activists.”

The Cornell-DC 37 Labor Studies Certificate Program for Women (see page 18 for enrollment information) is one example of the outstanding offerings of the ILR School. Hundreds of trade unionists have earned their certificates while broadening their knowledge of female participation in the labor movement.