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Thursday | Conference Activities • 6/12/2025 | ||
8 - 9 am | Opening Plenary "Seattle: The City of Workers' Rights"—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. Panelists: Teresa Mosqueda, King County Council; Steve Marchese, Seattle Office of Labor Standards; and Danielle Alvarado, Fair Work Center and Working Washington | ||
| 9:15 - 10:30 am | |||
1.1 New Attendee Orientation and Welcome (Panel) New LERA members and first- or second-time attendees are invited to meet with LERA leaders and staff to learn about LERA and how to get the most out of the annual meeting while also meeting other new attendees. Moderators: Frank Mullins, University of Alabama in Huntsville; and John W. Budd, Program Committee Chair and University of Minnesota | |||
1.2 Scheduling, Work Time, and Fair Work Week Laws (Symposium) Presenters: Daniel Schneider, Harvard University; Kristen Harknett*, University of California San Francisco; and David Arbelaez, Harvard University—A Fair Work Week? The Impact of Work Hour Regulations on Work Schedules and Worker Wellbeing Susan Lambert, Julia Henly, Hyojin Cho*, Resha Swanson-Varner and Yuxi He, University of Chicago—Employees' Experiences of Fair Workweek Ordinances: Variations by Provision, Industry, and Municipality Jaeseung Kim, Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea; Lonnie Golden*, Pennsylvania State University Abington; and Hyeri Choi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Work Time Quality, Job Quality and Workers' Well-being | |||
We will identify and discuss difficult behavior personality "types" that typically emerge during negotiations, which can be problematic in making progress towards reaching resolution. We will share experiences with the audience, and discuss mediator tactics and best practices, to foster better communication and understanding, and lead to success. | |||
1.4 Governing Gig Work: The Seattle Story (Panel) Seattle is arguably the most progressive city in the country when it comes to the rights of gig workers. In 2022 and 2023, Seattle City Council passed three ordinances providing rights and protections for app-based workers (e.g., Uber drivers). The city is also one of the only local governments to pass a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. This roundtable will bring together individuals from the city enforcement agency, elected officials, and worker advocacy organizations to discuss the passage of these laws and their initial implementation. Panelists: Kerem Levitas, Seattle Office of Labor Standards; Patrice Tisdale, Drivers Union Washington; Danielle Alvarado, Fair Work Center and Working Washington; and Silvia Gonzalez, Casa Latina Discussants: Teresa Mosqueda, King County Council; Andrew Wolf, Cornell University; Liz Ford, Seattle University School of Law; and Martin Garfinkel, Former Director, Seattle Office of Labor Standards | |||
Presenters: Alison Dickson*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Improving Job Quality Outcomes through Workers' Rights Education Arrow Minster*, San Francisco State University—Scaffolding Empowerment: The Strategic Role of Unscripted Practices in Continuous Worker Involvement Yaminette Diaz-Linhart*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Paulina López González and Luis Nuñez, National Domestic Workers Alliance; and Thomas A. Kochan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology—Quality Employment in Private Homes: Domestic Worker Voice and Voice Mechanisms | |||
1.6 Practice what You Preach: When Organizations' Values are Misaligned with Their Practices (Panel) The panel will review and discuss several real-life examples where social justice organizations have faced scrutiny due to value misalignments between their external mission and internal practices. Panelists: Jean-Marc Favreau, Union Side - Partner at Peer, Gan, Gisler and Favreau; and Melissa Sobota, Management Side Attorney | |||
1.7 Collaborative Research: Bridging Research and Praxis (Symposium) Presenters: Carla Lima Aranzaes, Pennsylvania State University; and Destiny Blackwell*, Amazon Worker - Organizer with CAUSE (Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment)—From Marginalization to Labor Organizing: Independent Unionization In North Carolina Tommaso Pio Danese*, Katia Pilati and Andrea Signoretti, University of Trento, Italy—The Party Politics of Trade Unions: Union and Non-Union Voices in the Italian Logistics Sector Ericka Wills*, University of Wisconsin-Madison—Towards an Actual "Just Transition" on the Navajo Nation: Oral Histories from Union Coal Mining and Impacted Communities Hye Jin Rho*, Michigan State University; Christine Riordan, Yeaseul Hur and , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Building relational power from the bottom-up: Union leaders and social action as a response to algorithmic management | |||
9:15 - 10:30 am | Moderators: Christine Riordan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Hye Jin Rho, Michigan State University | ||
| 10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
This session features editors from top-tier LERA journals including British Journal of Industrial Relations, ILR Review, and Industrial Relations. Each editor will discuss their journal's editorial mission, review policies, and tips for successfully navigating the submission and publication process. A Q&A session will follow, offering participants practical insights into publishing in these journals. This workshop is open to all participants, with a special focus on supporting early career researchers and PhD students. Panelists: Virginia Doellgast, Cornell University; Joanna Lahey, Texas A&M University; and Ryan Lamare, London School of Economics | |||
2.2 Computational Social Science and Labor Relations Research (Roundtable) The panel explores how computational tools like machine learning and NLP transform labor relations research, enhancing insights into markets, bargaining, and worker voice. Experts will share examples such as Turkopticon, which aids low-wage workers, and large language models analyzing labor data. Panelists will address ethical considerations and collaborations, aiming to ensure computational methods foster fairer labor practices, bridging disciplines for impactful policy improvements. Panelists: Deepa Kylasam Iyer, Andrew Wolf, Duanyi Yang and John McCarthy, Cornell University; and Tingting Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | |||
This session will provide some insight into what changes to expect at the DOL and what the transition to these changes will look like. Participants will have an opportunity to hear changes that are happening and ask questions to get some clarity on how to navigate through the changes. | |||
2.4 The Impact of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo on Labor and Employment Regulations: The End of Chevron (Panel) This panel will delve into the implications of the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo case on labor and employment agency regulations and guidance. Panelists will discuss the significance of this case and potential changes to labor and employment regulations moving forward within underrepresented groups. The panel will also highlight best practices for fostering effective communication, high-quality work, collegiality, and mutual respect. Panelists: Paul Garrison, JAMS; Michael D. Berkheimer, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP; April Madison-Ramsey, Stanford Health Care; and Ellicott Dandy, Frank Freed Subit & Thomas, LLP | |||
2.5 Creative Approaches to Worker Voice, Part II: Strategic Partnerships to Engage Workers (Symposium) Presenters: Kess Ballentine*, Wayne State University; Hollen Tillman, University of Pittsburgh; and Yaminette Diaz-Linhart, Massachusetts Institute of Technology—Preliminary Results from a Case Study of the Implementation and Efficacy of the Inaugural Detroit Industry Standards Board for Arena Workers Justin Vinton*, Adrienne E. Eaton, Rebecca Kolins Givan and Phela I. Townsend, Rutgers University—Illuminating Frontline Labor-Management Roles and Worker Voice in Partnership: Evidence from U.S. Healthcare Kirsten F. Siebach, Johns Hopkins University; Laura Kubzansky, Harvard University; Yaminette Diaz-Linhart, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Alex M. Kowalski, Cornell University; and Erin L. Kelly*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology—Effectiveness of a Participatory Voice Intervention on Psychological Well-being among Warehouse Workers: Results from the Fulfillment Center Intervention Study | |||
Presenters: Yu-Wen Chen*, Taiwan Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health—A New Era for Taiwan's Minimum Wage System in 2024 Ren Chaoran*, East China University of Science and Technology; Rutgers University; and Mingwei Liu, Rutgers University—The Impact of Social Insurance Payroll Taxes on Employment Externalization: Firm-Level Evidence from China Zoe Chanin*, University of Michigan—Private Disputes in the Public Eye: The Reputational Effects of Mandatory Employment Arbitration on Large U.S. Corporations | |||
2.8 Poster Session I (Symposium) Presenters: Franck Bietry, University of Caen (France); and Jordane Creusier*, University of the Littoral Opal Coast (France)—A Contribution to the Academic Discussion about the Universalism Versus Contingency of Well-being at Work Akierah Binns*, University of Guelph—From Crisis to Convention: Understanding the Normalization of Layoffs Or Shay*, Cornell University—Labor Policy in a Pandemic: Paid Sick Leave Laws and the Spread of Covid-19 Megan Bergman*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—The Role of Firms' Elite Hiring Practices and Definitions of Diversity in Shaping Corporate Board Demographics in Illinois | |||
10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
10:45 am - 12 pm | Moderators: Tazewell Victor Hurst III, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; Daniel Ross, Former FMCS; and Chuck Browning, UAW Labor Relations | ||
12:15 - 1:45 pm | Public Policy Luncheon Plenary—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. Panelists: Lilia García-Brower, California State Labor Commissioner; and Jessica Giannettino, Deputy Labor Commissioner, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries | ||
| 2 - 3:15 pm | |||
3.1 Workplace Surveillance: Impacts and Worker Perspectives (Symposium) Presenters: Alexander Hertel-Fernandez*, Columbia University—Health and Safety Impacts of Automated Surveillance and Management Technologies Matthew Scherer, Center for Democracy & Technology; and Wilneida Negrón*, Coworker.org—How Workers View Workplace Surveillance and Datafication Virginia Doellgast*, Cornell University; Sean O'Brady, McMaster University; and Jeonghun Kim, Cornell University—Call Center Workers' Experiences with AI-based Coaching Tools | |||
3.3 Seize the Moment: Using Improv Principles to Improve Your Communication (Skill-Building) Effective communication is essential in negotiations, conflict resolution, and teamwork. This interactive workshop will introduce Improv skills to help you think on your feet, become a more flexible, confident, and persuasive communicator, listen actively, and respond with empathy. Join us in this session where you will participate in exercises and learn techniques to sharpen your communication style, adapt to changing scenarios, and bring creativity into every conversation. | |||
3.4 Public Policies and Employment of People with Disabilities (Symposium) Presenters: Shailee Manandhar*, Roisin O'Neill and Douglas Kruse, Rutgers University—Impact of the 2020 CARES Expansion of UI on People with Disabilities Roisin O'Neill*, Shailee Manandhar and Douglas Kruse, Rutgers University—How do Minimum and Subminimum Wages Affect Employment of People with Disabilities? Montserrat Avila-Acosta* and Fitore Hyseni, Syracuse University—Breaking Barriers to Employment for People with Disabilities: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Financial and Benefits Counseling in Vocational Rehabilitation Lauren Gilbert*, Rutgers University—Vocational Rehabilitation Funding and Employment Outcomes During a Decade of Policy Change | |||
3.5 Creative Approaches to Worker Voice, Part III: Informal Networking and Dialogue (Birds of a Feather) This is the third session of a three-session proposal that follows the format of a Birds of a Feather. This session will provide an open space for participants to discuss topics from these prior two panels, share creative solutions and best practices, and forge connections that may lead to future collaborations. Structured discussion prompts will guide initial conversations, with ample room for spontaneous, participant-driven interactions. | |||
Recent federal and state minimum wage, overtime, child labor, and other investigations have demonstrated that immigrant workers are often denied access to the same rights as other workers. The DALE process is intended to provide level footing to immigrant workers to enforce their rights in the workplace and to be free to participate in enforcement investigations without fear of retaliation. This panel will provide key takeaways on the DALE process and an analysis of its impact. Panelists: Jessica Looman, Former official of the U.S. Department of Labor; Jessie Hahn, National Immigration Law Center; Matthew Capece, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Burt Aaron Johnson and , North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters | |||
Presenters: Amanda Chuan* and Andrew S. Johnson, Michigan State University—Diversity Statements can Activate Stereotype Threat: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment Brian Holland*, BLH Technologies—Living Wage and Guaranteed Income Campaigns: Concepts, Impacts, and Outcomes for Low-Wage Workers Keaton A. Fletcher* and Kendall Stephenson, Colorado State University—The Intersection of Child Employment, Child Labor Laws, and Union Activity | |||
2 - 3:15 pm | |||
2 - 3:15 pm | Moderators: David Lewin, University of California Los Angeles; and Tazewell Victor Hurst III, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers | ||
2 - 3:15 pm | |||
| 3:30 - 4:45 pm | |||
4.1 Labor Activism and Political Outcomes (Symposium) Presenters: Daniel Daneri*, Syracuse University; John Kallas, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Ryan Lamare, London School of Economics—Do Strikes Shift Legislators' Behavior? Examining the Relationship between Labor Activism and Political Outcomes in the United States Melissa Arnold Lyon*, University of Albany; Leslie Finger, University of North Texas; and Hyesang Noh, University at Albany—Strikes Demobilize Opponents Alexander Hertel-Fernandez*, Columbia University—Unemployment Insurance and Worker Power: Lessons from COVID-19 Relief for State Policy Katherine Rader*, Christopher Newport University—Organizing Against Taft-Hartley: Lessons from Labor and Racial Advocacy Organizations in the Twentieth Century | |||
4.2 Birds of a Feather Gathering: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Hospitality Work in Seattle (Birds of a Feather) The hospitality industry is experiencing rapid transformation, with workers and unions at the forefront of addressing challenges that range from fair wages, staffing and workloads, and navigating technological changes in the workplace. Hosted by the Hospitality Community Council, this informal, interactive session brings together workers from the Seattle area, local union staff, and academic researchers in a collaborative environment designed for open dialogue. | |||
4.3 Advocates' Selection and Avoidance of Labor Arbitrators - The Data Are in and the Debate Will Begin (Panel) Why does a party select a labor arbitrator? Why will they decline to select that arbitrator again? Using data obtained from advocates in the first national empirical study on arbitrator selection, the panelists will discuss the arbitrator selection process from the vantage point of neutrals and advocates. With this National Academy of Arbitrators' funded study as a foundation, the panel will offer their insights on how arbitrators gain acceptability, and how they can lose it. Presenter: E. Patrick McDermott*, U.S. Air Force Academy—An Empirical Analysis of Arbitrator Selection and Acceptability | |||
4.4 Occupational Licensing across Countries (Symposium) Presenters: Darwyyn Deyo, San Jose State University; and Morris M. Kleiner*, University of Minnesota—Locked Out: The Labor Market Effects of Licensing Barriers for Individuals with Criminal Records Wenchen Wang*, Illinois Institute of Technology—Occupational Licensing of Opticians and Optometrists -- Analyzing the Labor Market Outcomes of Regulating Eye Care Occupations Mengjie Lyu*, University of Michigan—Labour Market Impacts of Occupational Licensing and Delicensing: What's New in China Tingting Zhang*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Occupational Licensing in Canada: The Recent Legislative Development of Regulatory Oversight | |||
4.5 Unions and Union Strategy (Symposium) Presenters: Ian Kinzel*, University of California, Riverside—Striking in a Post-COVID World: Paths to Sustainable Outcomes Alexander Busch*, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Lukas Lehner, University of Edinburgh; and Kilian Weil, Hertie School—The Revival of Strikes in Germany Larry Savage* and Paul Gray, Brock University—Under the Hood: Detroit Three Bargaining and Intra-Union Tensions in Canada | |||
4.6 Work of the Future: Green Jobs and Care Work (Symposium) Presenters: Peter J. Fugiel*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Abhinav Banthiya and Hesong Yang, Illinois Climate Jobs Institute—A Composite Approach to Quantifying Clean Energy Jobs in Illinois Zoe West* and Yiran Zhang, Cornell University—The Boundaries of Paid and Unpaid Care Work in Consumer-Directed Home Care | |||
4.7 Collective Bargaining Trends (Birds of a Feather) Collective Bargaining Council Co-chairs: Gemma Lopresti and Rachel Lev will present several topics of interest in the collective bargaining arena, including DEIA, Strikes and Lockouts, Emerging trends, and other issues affecting labor management bargaining relationships. Attendees will share and learn from one another, personal experiences, ideas and best practices. | |||
3:30 - 4:45 pm | |||
3:30 - 4:45 pm | Moderators: William Canak, Middle Tennessee State University (ret.); and Bonnie Castrey, Dispute Resolution Services | ||
3:30 - 4:45 pm | |||
5 - 6:30 pm | Joint Universities Welcome Reception—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. | ||
Friday | Conference Activities • 6/13/2025 | ||
8 - 9 am | |||
| 9 - 10:15 am | |||
Panel will compare public sector collective bargaining statutes in Oregon and Washington and examine trends in collective bargaining dispute resolution. Drawing on data from Oregon ERB and Washington PERC and experience from mediators in both agencies, trends in mediation, impasse, labor strikes and interest arbitration will be presented. The panel will also include two labor and management practitioners from both states to provide perspective on the different bargaining schemes and their influence on practice. Panelists: Daniel Comeau, Washington Public Employment Relations Commission; Janet Gillman, Oregon Employment Relations Board; Mike Brunet, Foster Garvey, PC; and Michael Tedesco, Tedesco Law Group | |||
5.2 Gender Bias, Dynamics, and Bargaining (Symposium) Presenters: Moonyoung Jang*, Korea University—Ethical Leadership, Dominant Male Leadership Perspective vs. Minority Female Leadership Perspective Janna Johnson*, University of Minnesota—Occupational Licensure, Interstate Migration, and the Labor Market Outcomes of Dual-Earner Couples Pooria Assadi*, California State University Sacramento; and Shinjae Won, University of Pennsylvania—Setting the Price: Gendered Self and Other Devaluation of Medical Services in Health Care | |||
In today’s highly polarized world, the workplace of 2025 will face significant challenges in three key areas: political discussions, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations, and psychological safety discourse. Failure to address and learn from these crucial conversations will negatively impact employee morale, engagement, and productivity, compromise employee well-being, and increase challenges to recruitment and retention. This session will delve into the significant impact these conversations have on employee morale, productivity, and overall health. By addressing these topics thoughtfully, organizations can reduce absenteeism, improve recruitment and retention, and create a more engaged and resilient workforce. | |||
5.4 Labor in Global Supply Chains Part I: Interactive Effects of Preferential Trade Agreements, Due Diligence, and Private Regulation (Symposium) Presenters: Matthew Amengual, University of Oxford; Alexandra Ganguin, Oxford University; Alessandro Guasti, University of Oxford; and Damian Raess*, Université Laval—The Combined Effect of the Governance of Labor Standards through PTAs and Private Regulation on the Reconfiguration of Buyer and Supplier Relationships in GSCs Mark Anner*, Rutgers University; and Diego Bautista, El Colegio Mexiquense—The Interaction of Labor Chapters in Trade Agreements and Labor Law Reform: Disparate Employment Relations Impacts along Global Supply Chain Tiers in Mexico Jeffrey S. Wheeler*, LRQA—Lessons from the Global Trace Protocol: Labor Rights & Worker Voice from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Pakistan Jimmy Donaghey*, University of South Australia; Juliane Reinecke and Mahreen Khan, University of Oxford—Trajectories of Public, Private and Joint Governance in the Bangladesh RMG Sector 2013-2024 | |||
5.5 Spicy Trends in Union Research (Symposium) Presenters: Bradley R. Weinberg*, Queen's University—The Effect of Public Sector Essential Service Designation Legislation on Collective Bargaining Outcomes Daniela Gatti*, University of Toronto; and Lorenzo Frangi, University of Québec at Montréal—Student Union Leadership: Commitment, Experience, and Union Legacy | |||
Interest in registered apprenticeship is growing. Apprenticeships are proven to provide mutual benefit. Yet other types of joint labor management training programs can raise sector standards; include worker voice; and improve employer/worker relations. The panel will focus on partnerships across several sectors, exploring how they are solving key challenges; providing value to employers and workers; why participants chose to adopt a registered apprenticeship or another joint intervention; and state policies to seed these programs. Panelists: Stephen Johnson (invited), AFSCME District Council 37; Katie Coombes, RISE Partnership; and Cate Bridenstine, Imagine Institute | |||
5.7 Organizing, Identity, and Strategy (Symposium) Presenters: Kwelina Thompson*, MIT—The Stronger We Can Make Ourselves: 9to5's Dual Strategy in Organizing Women Enrique Lopezlira*, University of California Berkeley—Building Solidarity: Unions as a Necessary Condition to Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis Phela I. Townsend*, Rutgers University—Race, Class, and Strategic Action: Black Worker Centers and the Complex Dynamics of Worker Organizing Jianxuan Lei*, University of Minnesota; Xin Meng, Rutgers University-New Brunswick; and Xueyu Wang, University of Toronto—Do You Hear the People Sing? The Impact of Strikes on Workers' Mental Health | |||
9 - 10:15 am | |||
9 - 10:15 am | Moderators: William Canak, Middle Tennessee State University (ret.); and Bonnie Castrey, Dispute Resolution Services | ||
| 10:30 - 11:45 am | |||
This practitioner-led session will explore challenges and advantages of collaborative bargaining when conducted alongside a union-led contract campaign. The effects of management-led campaigns and communication strategies on collaborative bargaining will also be discussed. This session will present case studies of two public universities in Oregon that conducted faculty negotiations using interest-based bargaining. Panelists will include union and management representatives who served on the bargaining teams at both universities. Panelists: David Kinsella and Christopher M. Monsere, Portland State University; Melanie Landon-Hayes, Earlene Camarillo and Judy Sylva, Western Oregon University | |||
6.2 Contemporary Issues of Gender and Work (Symposium) Presenters: Kourtney Koebel* and Xiner Xu, University of Toronto—The Valuation of Work in the Care Economy: Examining the Impact of Government Subsidized Child Care on the Labour Market of Providers Shannon Potter*, Michigan State University; and Laura Lam, University of Toronto—Gender and the labour of knowledge dissemination | |||
6.3 Getting Curious: Transforming Conflict and Dialogue Through Curiosity (Skill-Building) In this dynamic session, you'll explore how adopting a curious mindset can bridge divides, uncover hidden interests, and foster more collaborative outcomes. Learn practical techniques to ask the right questions, reality check assumptions, listen deeply, and turn challenging situations into opportunities for creative problem-solving. Whether you're a labor leader, negotiator, or mediator, this training will equip you with the tools to navigate tough conversations with empathy, clarity, and a fresh perspective. | |||
Presenters: Pauline Jerrentrup*, London School of Economics—The Emergence of Enforceable Brand Agreements: Patterns of Stakeholder Interaction and Approaches to Women Worker Representation in the Lesotho and Dindigul Agreements to Eliminate Gender-based Violence and Harassment Sumati Thusoo*, Rutgers University—Intersectional Organizing Against Gender-Based Violence: The #JusticeForJeyasre Campaign and Critical Industrial Relations Theory Sanchita Saxena*, University of California Berkeley—Effective Grievance Mechanisms to Address Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) for Workers in Global Supply Chains | |||
6.5 LERA Competitive Papers I: Gender, Diversity, and Inequality in Modern Labor Markets (Symposium) Presenters: Laura Beltran Figueroa* and Adriane Clomax, Rutgers University—Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Labor Market Inequality: Investigating Gender and the Marriage Premium Chien-Hao Chen*, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign—Empowering Women in Higher Education: The Regulatory Spillover Effects That Gender Quotas for Government Have on Female Faculty Representation in Taiwanese Universities Lin Xiu* and Yufei Ren, University of Minnesota Duluth—Public Sector Advantage? Examining Gendered Well-Being Outcomes Across Employment Sectors in China Laura Lopez-Sanders*, Brown University—Temporal Inequality in the Gig Economy: How Immigrant Generation, Gender, and Algorithmic Management Shape Time Poverty | |||
6.6 How Parties Negotiate Themselves into Deadlock (Panel) The paper seeks to expound the role of negotiators in achieving closure by effectively utilizing negotiation strategies such as persuasion, planning, and evaluating power dynamics between parties, which influence the negotiation approach. The discussions will also analyze the norms for mediation and the necessary mediation skills to circumvent deadlocks and achieve favorable resolution for all parties. Panelists: Nolusindiso Cindy Foca, Adriaan Van Der Walt and Luvuyo Bono, Education Labour Relations Council; and Mongwena Maluleke, South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) | |||
6.7 Work Time and Life Course Dynamics (Symposium) Presenters: Youngmin Chu* and Phyllis Moen, University of Minnesota; Wen Fan and Juliet Schor, Boston College—Navigating Life Under a Four-Day Workweek: Examining Time-Work Boundary Strategies and Work-Life Fit Andrew Weaver*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Hyejin Ko, Korean Institute of Health and Social Affairs—The Impact of Work Hour Reductions on Fertility and Human Capital Matthew Piszczek*, Wayne State University; and Peter Berg, Michigan State University—Who Needs Older Workers? A Demand-side Perspective of HR Responses to Workforce Aging | |||
6.8 Poster Session II (Symposium) Presenters: *, The George Washington University—Building an International Lifelong Learning Platform to Bridge Workforce Skill Gaps: Perspectives on Regional Development in China Ricardo Araujo Dib Taxi* and Valena Jacob Chaves, Federal University of Para—Child Labor in the Açaí Productive Chain in Brazilian Amazonia Wogene Mena*, Vienna University of Economics and Business—Made in Ethiopia - but at whose expense? Unveiling the Working Conditions and Legitimizations of Labor Control Regimes in Ethiopian Garment Industries. Jeffrey B. Arthur* and Daniel J. Beal, Virginia Tech University—Social Exchange Breakdown: State Income Inequality Effects on Employees' Response to High-Commitment Work Practices Nien-chi Liu*, Ming-Jhe Jeng and Ya-Ting Liu, National Taiwan University—A Sociotechnical Framework for Generative AI Adoption: Balancing Technical, Economic, and Institutional Dynamics in Organizational Integration | |||
10:30 - 11:45 am | |||
10:30 - 11:45 am | Moderators: Harry C. Katz, Program Committee Co-Chair and Cornell University; and Jim Pruitt, LERA President and Kaiser Permanente | ||
10:30 - 11:45 am | |||
12 - 1:30 pm | Friday Networking Plenary—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. | ||
| 1:45 - 3 pm | |||
7.1 Current Issues in Public Sector Labor Employment Relations (Symposium) Presenters: Jake Rosenfeld*, Washington University in St. Louis; Patrick Denice, Western University; and Jennifer Laird, Lehman College—Race, Gender, and Demand for Worker Power in the Public Sector Lauren Melodia*, The New School—Federal Child Care Policy and Its Impact on the Earnings of Home-Based Child Care Providers and Workers Abdur-Razzaaq Yasin*, Rutgers University-Newark—It's in Their Blood: Calling and Public Service Motivation in Black, Latino and Women Firefighters Patrice M. Mareschal*, Jeffrey H. Keefe and Daniel Assamah, Rutgers University—Police Salaries and Staffing in New Jersey: Examining the Roles of Community Context, Conflict, and Control | |||
7.2 Mapping New Frontiers in IR Research (Symposium) Presenters: John Kallas*, Anh Lam and Tingting Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Under what Conditions are Strikes Most Effective for Workers and their Organizations? Dongwoo Park*, Cornell University—The Making of Unjust Transition: Examining Union Internal Politics and BEV Transition Shannon Potter, Michigan State University; Rachel Aleks*, University of Windsor; and Tina Saksida, University of Prince Edward Island—Raising the Bar: Combatting Sexual Harassment though Collective Bargaining Lorenzo Frangi*, University of Québec at Montréal; Tingting Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Jordan Cowie, McGill University—A pluribus unum? Affiliates' Leadership and Identification with a Global Union Federation | |||
What happens if management is not very interested in having more constructive relationships with employees? Can mutually beneficial organizational change be implemented only from the top down? Drawing from decades of experience working in the U.S. labor movement, Jamaine Gibson, Erik Nicholson, and Joe Fahey will share real life examples of how workers have come together to creatively engage management, creating new, impactful relationships. Panelists: Jamaine Gibson, Amalgamated Transit Union International; and Erik Nicholson, Semillero de Ideas | |||
7.4 Labor in Global Supply Chains III: Worker Activism and Labor Regimes in Global Supply Chains (Symposium) Presenters: Sazid Ahmad*, London School of Economics—Exploiting Shifting Local Political Dynamics in GSCs: How Garments Workers in Bangladesh Spontaneously Organized to Improve Working Conditions Claire Sleigh*, Cornell University—Worker Activism in Global Supply Chains: Investigating Wildcat Strikes in Jordan Matthew Fischer-Daly*, Pennsylvania State University—Contested Labor Regimes in Honduras's Internationally Integrated Palm Oil Industry Wogene Mena*, Vienna University of Economics and Business—Made in Ethiopia - but at whose expense? Unveiling the Working Conditions and Legitimizations of Labor Control Regimes in Ethiopian Garment Industries | |||
7.5 Creating Authentic Dialogue and Meaningful Action about Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, and More - in Polarized Times (Birds of a Feather) This "Birds of a Feather" session will create space for conversations and collective strategizing on addressing racism, sexism, transphobia, anti-gay and anti-immigrant sentiment, and more in a time when the "anti-woke" movement is mobilized. The discussion will be structured but flexible and allow for new connections. One theme will be: What inspiring visions can we share and what tools, and strategies might we pursue to advance justice, equity, and inclusion in specific organizations and in the economy and society more broadly? | |||
This panel session is based on the book Negotiating High Performance-Focused Partnerships: The Five Stages of Effective Labor Management Negotiations, by Cooke, Butler, and Posey. Posey first highlights key points underlying the five stages of effective labor-management negotiations. The panelists address additional critical factors and examples in successfully negotiating partnerships based on their own extensive negotiation experiences. Panelists: Jim Pruitt, LERA President and Kaiser Permanente; and Susan J. Schurman, Rutgers University | |||
7.7 Precarious Work and Inequality Dynamics (Symposium) Presenters: Giorgos Gouzoulis*, Queen Mary, University of London; and Aggela Papadopoulou, City, University of London—Financialization & the Black-White Pay Gap in the United States Pedro Freire*, None—The Impact of Neoliberal Restructuring on Latino/a/x Workers in the Logistics and Warehousing Sector of the Inland Empire Zhipeng Zhou*, Cornell University—Understanding Market Dynamics in China: Sectoral Differences in Employment Precarity and Labor Income Inequality [DCDC Best Student Paper Winner] Luis Rondan-Vasquez*, University of Florida—Understanding the Role of Complete Higher Education in the Relationship between Social Inequalities and Precarious Work in Peru | |||
1:45 - 3:00 pm | |||
1:45 - 4:30 pm | |||
1:45 - 3 pm | |||
| 3:15 - 4:30 pm | |||
8.1 Negotiating Menopause: Collective Solutions for a Supportive Workplace (Expert Lecture) Prepare to sweat -- with laughter! This session explores how menopause intersects with the workplace, especially during those prime earning years when women are balancing careers and hot flashes. We will explore how acknowledging and addressing these needs at the bargaining table can lead to workplaces that are not just surviving but thriving. Participants will have the opportunity to identify issues and remedies to specific challenges faced by women at work and come away with cool ideas that can be implemented in their organizations. Panelists: Deb Bittner, Clerical-Technical Union of MSU; and Diana Clark, United Employees Benefits Trust | |||
Presenters: Michael Belzer*, Wayne State University; and David Peetz, Griffith University—The Economics of Safety in Australian Road Transport: The TEACHO Report Walt Ryley*, Bowling Green State University; and Michael Belzer, Wayne State University—Intrastate Truck Driver Relative Pay and Motor Carrier Safety Performance Kevin Conner*, University of Utah—Safety's Relation to Labor Market Concentration and Driver Remuneration in U.S. Intrastate Trucking Wol-San Liem*, International Transport Workers' Federation; and Doojoo Baek, Institute for Global Area Studies, Pukyong National University—Nowhere else in the world? The Korean Safe Rates System in global context' | |||
For several decades, the FMCS has been at the forefront of launching new variants of collaborative bargaining models in labor negotiations across the country (and world). Many of those models have trickled down into public sector labor negotiations where they have been utilized, and adapted, to meet the unique needs of the public sector workforce. This panel will explore how some of these different models are being deployed across the public sectors in Washington State and Oregon. With recent significant reductions to FMCS and its efforts to promote different collaborative approaches, the panel will also step into the question of "what’s next?" for the future of collaborative negotiations in the public sector and beyond. | |||
8.4 Labor in Global Supply Chains IV: Impacts of Global Brands and a High-road Strategy on Workers in Supply Chains (Symposium) Presenters: Yichen Liu* and Greg Distelhorst, University of Toronto—Do Purchasing Practices Drive Worker Turnover? Evidence from Dedicated Suppliers Chunyun Li*, London School of Economics and Political Sciences—Worker Debt and Workplace Grievances in Global Supply Chains: The Role of Wage Violations and Global Buyer's Purchasing Practices Anibel Ferus-Comelo*, University of California Berkeley Labor Center—A High-Road Strategy for Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chains | |||
8.5 Human Capital Accumulation & Obstacles in the Labor Market (Symposium) Presenters: Teresita Cruz Vital*, University of California Berkeley—Dual Language, Dual Benefit? Estimating the Effects of Dual Language Immersion Programs in Texas Gabrielle Lohner*, University of California Berkeley—Broadening the Safety Net: The Impact of Increased CalFresh Access for California College Students Cecilia Moreira*, Stanford University; Aastha Rajan, Northwestern University; and Lauren Harris, Stanford University—Incentivizing Success: Assessing the Texas Incentive Allotment Program's Impact on Teacher Labor Markets and Student Achievement Joanna Lahey*, Gerianne Alexander and Tracy Hammond, Texas A&M University—Gender Discrimination in Hiring for STEM Graduates | |||
8.6 Policy, Practice, and Inequality: U.S. Focus (Symposium) Joy J. Kim*, Rutgers University—Prevalence and Determinants of Worker Misclassification: Role of Off-the-Book Employment and Workers' Knowledge James A. Parrott*, The New School for Social Research—The Economic Condition of New York City Restaurant Delivery Gig Workers Enrique Lopezlira and Kassandra Hernandez*, University of California Berkeley—Worker-led Lawsuits: The Effects of California's Private Attorneys General Act on Business Behavior Across the State | |||
8.7 LERA/AILR Best Papers (Symposium) Chairs: David Lewin, University of California Los Angeles; and Paul J. Gollan, University of Wollongong Presenters: Jiyoung Lee*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—Board Diversity Disclosure: What Determines Compliance with Mandated Disclosures of Board Diversity Information for U.S. Public Firms? Roshni Raveendhran, University of Virginia; Arvind Karunakaran*, Stanford University; and Tami Kim, Dartmouth College—Artificial Intelligence and Workers' Motivation to Reskill Lindsey Cameron*, University of Pennsylvania; and Bobbi Thomason, Pepperdine University—Bottom-Up Reliability: People as Infrastructure in Global Platform Work Irene Wen-fen Yang*, National Chung Cheng University—Navigating the New Normal: The Impact of Work Autonomy and Job Crafting on Performance in Multinational Remote Work Environments | |||
3:15 - 4:30 pm | |||
4:45 - 6:15 pm | LERA Executive Board Meeting—Grand Crescent, 4th Fl. | ||
Saturday | Conference Activities • 6/14/2025 | ||
7:30 - 9 am | Annual Labor Breakfast: Labor Relations Under New Administration—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. This session will examine from multiple perspectives the possible/probable implications of how the Trump Administration will impact labor relations in the U.S. and how the labor movement may/should respond. | ||
| 9:15 - 10:30 am | |||
9.1 Naming and Shaming: Promoting Labor Standards Compliance through Publicizing Employer Violations (Symposium) Presenters: Janice Fine*, Jake Barnes, Jenn Round and Hana R. Shepherd, Rutgers University; and Daniel Galvin, Northwestern University—Do Stop Work Orders Have a Spillover Effect on Compliance? Ahmer Qadeer*, Quest Research & Investigations (QRI)—Two Cases of Naming and Shaming in the Big Apple: The NYC Public Advocate's Landlord Watch List and The NYC Comptroller's Employer Violations Dashboard | |||
9.2 Models of Mediation to Promote Authentic Dialogue in Employment (Skill-Building) This interactive session explores how different mediation approaches promote open, honest workplace dialogue. Compare four key models while highlighting their unique strengths in resolving workplace disputes. Learn how each contributes to resolving various issues, from interpersonal conflicts to complaints and negotiations. Gain insight into which approach is best suited to which workplace challenge. Develop practical skills to select the most effective mediation strategy for building trust, transparency, and open communication. | |||
9.3 Measuring What Matters: Building a Multi-Dimensional Job Quality Index to Address Labor Market Disparities (Panel) This panel examines objective and subjective factors shaping employment quality to develop a comprehensive job quality index. Recent economic shifts have increased focus on the quality of current and future jobs. Using an equity-centered, multi-dimensional approach, the panel defines employment quality and explores its variations across gender, race, occupation, and industry. Practitioners and policymakers will gain actionable insights grounded in real-world data and reflective of workers' job quality assessments. Panelists: Hyeri Choi, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Lonnie Golden, Pennsylvania State University Abington; Alison Dickson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Wenchen Wang, Illinois Institute of Technology | |||
Presenters: Dena Javadi*, Harvard University; Erin L. Kelly, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Lisa Berkman, Harvard University—Workplace Social Capital in U.S. Fulfillment Centers: A Longitudinal Assessment of Impact on Psychological Distress and Turnover Brittany Bond, Duanyi Yang* and Sunita Sah, Cornell University—Organizational Interventions to Alleviate Burnout and Promote Well-Being Rebecca Wolfe*, Harvard University; Paige Prater, University of California, San Francisco; Kristen Harknett, University of California San Francisco; and Daniel Schneider, Harvard University—Supportive Workplaces for Systems Involved Young Workers | |||
This session is an "Author Meets Critics" session in which we will focus on the book by J. Mijin Cha: A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future (MIT Press, December 2024). This book will have just been published and covers the critical topic of climate change, just transition policies, and their effect on workers and communities.This session will start with a presentation from Mijin about the book and then proceed with a discussion around the merits and broader themes of the book by academics and practitioners. Panelists: J. Mijin Cha, University of California Santa Cruz; Lara Skinner, Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University; Liz Ratzloff, Labor Network for Sustainability; and Marissa Brookes, University of California Riverside | |||
Overview of federal and state prevailing wage requirements on federal and state projects. Panelists: Shannon M. Chambers, Northern Nevada Operating Engineers Contract Compliance Fund, Inc. (NNOECC); Tom Silva, U.S. Department of Labor; and Dina Morsi, NorCal Construction and Industry Compliance | |||
9:15 - 10:30 am | LERA 27th Annual PhD Student Consortium Part I - Democracy and the Future of Unions—Grand Crescent, 4th Fl. This year’s PhD consortium looks at how labor researchers and practitioners can work with polarization in the workplace and society. How can early-career scholars study contested issues? How can junior scholars publish in the polarized times? Junior scholars face the dual challenge of navigating the broader context in which they operate while balancing their careers and contributions to academia. This consortium aims to help PhD students address these challenges while building academic careers. Please see our website for the full consortium agenda: LERAweb.org/phd-student-consortium-2025 Moderators: Deepa Kylasam Iyer, Cornell University; Kwon Hee Han, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Akierah Binns, University of Guelph; and Tinu Mathew, York University Panelists: Virginia Doellgast, Cornell University; John A. Logan, San Francisco State University; Rachel Erstad, Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies; and Jack Fiorito, Florida State University | ||
9:15 - 10:30 am | |||
9:15 - 10:30 am | |||
9:15 - 10:30 am | |||
| 10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
10.1 Partnerships Add Workplace Value (Skill-Building) The U.S. Department of Labor encourages employers and employees to work together to collaboratively solve workplace challenges, improve productivity, foster business growth, and enhance employee engagement. The Labor-Management Partnership Program is an initiative within the Office of Labor-Management Standards that promotes positive workplace partnerships and offers a variety of resources that can be used to foster collaboration, innovation, and mutual growth. Participate in the session to learn how partnerships will add value in your workplace. | |||
10.2 Creating Civility in the Workplace-It's your Choice or Is it? (Skill-Building) The learning objectives and/or takeaways that participants will get from attending "Creating Civility session described above will include: Understanding the (monetary) cost of an uncivil workplace vs the benefits of a more civil environment. Tools of how to change or influence your environment (What can I personally do?). The power/influence of the neuroscience on how I interact with my supervisors and co-workers (What are Mirror-Neurons? and how do they work?). Catching kindness in the Act (What is the power of smile and other acts of kindness?) | |||
The panel focuses on the Alliance of Health Care Unions and Kaiser Permanente partnership in historical and comparative perspective, with dialogue between one of its leading scholars, and current labor and management leaders. How has it evolved? How have challenges identified early on been addressed? What changes occurred that might have surprised or been expected by those who studied the LMP in its formative years? How does KP's partnership compare to others? What must be addressed for it to survive another 27 years, and how might it evolve? Panelists: Hal Ruddick, Alliance of Health Care Unions; Jim Pruitt, LERA President and Kaiser Permanente; and Adrienne E. Eaton, Rutgers University | |||
The Future of DEI: Building Effective Multigenerational Legal Teams "Back in my day, associates didn't --" We often hear about the differences in work habits between Gen-Z, Baby Boomers, Gen-X, and Millennials. This panel will explore how communication and expectations vary across these generations and within diverse communities. We'll discuss how cross-generational interactions are evolving, especially within underrepresented groups. The panel will also highlight best practices for fostering effective communication, high-quality work, collegiality, and mutual respect. | |||
10.5 Organizing a Labor- and Community-led Clean Energy Transition: Lessons from Contra Costa County, California (Panel) This panel spotlights a coalition of environmental and labor actors in Contra Costa County, California, who have been working to guide economic and climate policy and practice toward an equitable transition for workers and communities. Panelists will discuss the organizing work behind the coalition, the creation of the Refinery Transition Partnership, the regional economic development approach adopted by the Partnership, the political opportunities and challenges of the climate policy process, and key outcomes of the initiative to-date. Panelists: Virginia Parks, University of California Irvine; Jessica HF Hammerling, University of California Berkeley; Josh Sonnenfeld, BlueGreen Alliance; and Josh Anijar, Contra Costa Labor Council | |||
This session examines high and low-road labor practices on public works construction and affordable housing projects. We'll discuss the financial benefits of union labor within PLAs, the prevalence of labor brokers and wage theft in residential construction, and ways that city offices of labor standards hold contractors accountable. Attendees will gain insights into how labor standards and contractor practices influence project quality, worker welfare, and cost efficiency, with recommendations for adopting ethical, high-road strategies. Panelists: Larissa Petrucci, NorCal Construction Industry Compliance; Benjamin Aaron Kreider, North America's Building Trades Unions; and Lucas A. Franco, LiUNA Great Lakes Region | |||
10.7 Poster Session III (Symposium) Presenters: Ying Zhen*, Wesleyan College; and Cameron M. Weber, Independent Scholar—English Proficiency and the Success of Latino Musicians in the COVID 19-Era in the United States Ruth Mubanga*, Midlands State University—Forms of Employee Resistance in Higher Education in the Face of Uncertainty: The Case of a State University in Zimbabwe Shah Khan*, Ministry of Federal Education @Professional Training—Literacy for Life: A Community-Based Approach to Adult and Adolescent Education Jessica Aguilar, Deborah L. Young, Beth Yeager* and Boniface Michael, California State University Sacramento—Teaching Arbitration in Business Schools: Assessing Neutrality with AI and Associating with the Two Parties' Satisfaction Olufemi Michael Oladejo*, University of KwaZulu-Natal—Training and Development: Implication on Academic Staff Performance and University Sustainability Irene Wen-fen Yang*, National Chung Cheng University; and Meng-Ting Hsieh, National Central University—Whispers in the Workplace: Exploring the Impacts of Organizational Rumors on Employees' Psychological Safe, Task Performance, and Innovative Behavior | |||
10:45 am - 12 pm | LERA 27th Annual PhD Student Consortium Part II - Mentorship and Publication—Grand Crescent, 4th Fl. This year’s PhD consortium looks at how labor researchers and practitioners can work with polarization in the workplace and society. How can early-career scholars study contested issues? How can junior scholars publish in the polarized times? Junior scholars face the dual challenge of navigating the broader context in which they operate while balancing their careers and contributions to academia. This consortium aims to help PhD students address these challenges while building academic careers. Please see our website for the full consortium agenda: LERAweb.org/phd-student-consortium-2025 Moderators: Akierah Binns, University of Guelph; Tinu Mathew, York University; Deepa Kylasam Iyer, Cornell University; and Kwon Hee Han, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Panelists: John Kallas, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Adam Seth Litwin, Cornell University; Jake Rosenfeld, Washington University in St. Louis; Maite Tapia, Michigan State University; Danielle van Jaarsveld, University of British Columbia; Carla Lima Aranzaes, Pennsylvania State University; and Michael David Maffie, Cornell University | ||
10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
10:45 am - 12 pm | |||
12:15 - 2 pm | LERA Annual Presidential Luncheon—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. | ||
| 2:15 - 3:30 pm | |||
11.1 Building Worker Power through Workforce Development (Symposium) Presenters: Laura Dresser*, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Ana Luz Gonzalez-Vasquez, University of California Los Angeles Labor Center—Building Worker Power through Workforce Development: A Study of High Road Training Partnerships in California Alí Rodolfo Bustamante*, University of New Orleans and Roosevelt Institute—Protecting Workers by Preventing Labor Law Violators from Receiving Federal Workforce Development Funding Teófilo Reyes*, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United—Worker-Led Workforce Development in the Restaurant Industry | |||
11.2 Transforming Anger (Roundtable) Anger is a powerful emotion that can escalate conflict and create barriers Anger can also be a catalyst for change and growth when it's understood and managed effectively. In this session, we will explore the nature of anger–why it arises, how it affects us, and how it can be harnessed for better outcomes. Participants will learn and discuss practical strategies for recognizing and addressing anger. | |||
Clinicians organizing a new union at Cambridge Health Alliance, a safety net hospital system chose the labor management partnership (LMP) model from Kaiser Permanente and SHARE/AFSCME and UMass Memorial to organize their union. Clinicians wanted decision-making influence through LMP and unit-based teams to create a just, financially stable healthcare system that's nurturing for workers and offers the highest quality care to patients. Union leaders will describe organizing to win their union, and their efforts to create a successful LMP. Panelists: Andrea Caceres, SHARE/AFSCME; Katie Thelen, SHARE/AFSCME and Cambridge Health Alliance; Emily Chen, Jeremy Stricsek and Juliane Liberus, Cambridge Health Alliance | |||
Presenters: E. Patrick McDermott*, U.S. Air Force Academy—An Empirical Analysis of Arbitration Selection and Sustainability – What One Would Expect and The Many Surprises Kwon Hee Han*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Ryan Lamare, London School of Economics; and Tingting Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—How Should We Continue to Study What Unions Do? A Methodological Review of Union Effect Studies Shawn Meikle* and Jenna E. Myers, University of Toronto—To Conceal or Reveal: Strategic Skill Deployment to Adjust the Wage-effort Bargain | |||
11.5 LERA/Illinois Climate Jobs Institute Best Papers (Symposium) Presenters: Jo Orsatti*, University of Sydney—Who Benefits from Net Zero Futures? Quality Jobs and the Future Made in America Abraham Walker*, University of North Carolina—Permissive Bargaining Topics as a Point of Leverage in the Emergent BEV Sector Matt Sedlar*, Center for Economic and Policy Research—Who is Saving Coastal Louisiana? The Workforce and Industry Behind Coastal Protection and Restoration | |||
11.6 Automation and Advanced Technologies (Symposium) Presenters: Ayaj Rana*, Cornell University—A Supermodularity Approach to Navigating the Automation-Augmentation Paradox in Management Mengjie Lyu*, University of Michigan; Eli McClain and Julie Hui, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor—Advanced Technologies Adoption and the Workforce: A Firm-level View from Small Manufacturers Deepa Kylasam Iyer*, Cornell University; and Francis Kuriakose, Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), New Delhi—Occupational Considerations in Choices around Generative AI in Creative Industries Yue Qiu*, Capital University of Economics and Business; and Mingwei Liu, Rutgers University—Robots, Employment, and Labor Income Share Evidence from Chinese Industrial Firms | |||
2:15 - 3:30 pm | LERA 7th Junior Faculty Consortium -- Navigating Academia: Seniors Scholars' Reflections and Advice for Junior Faculty Studying Work and Labor—Grand Crescent, 4th Fl. What does the past, present, and future of work and employment research look like? This panel will feature several top scholars in labor and employment relations who will reflect on the state of the field and their experiences, provide career suggestions and advice about navigating academic life including tenure, networking, and publishing, and provide a vibrant forum for dialogue between leading scholars in the field and up and coming junior faculty about the direction of the field and how junior faculty can navigate and shape it. The panel promises to be insightful and informative for junior faculty making their way in labor and employment relations. Panelists: Sean E. Rogers, University of Rhode Island; Danielle van Jaarsveld, University of British Columbia; Ryan Lamare, London School of Economics; Thomas A. Kochan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Janice Fine, Rutgers University | ||
2:15 - 3:30 pm | |||
2:15 - 3:30 pm | |||
2:15 - 3:30 pm | |||
| 3:45 - 5 pm | |||
This panel presents findings from and reflections on the 2024 Directory of Bargaining Agents and Contracts in Higher Education. The Directory documents the rapid increase in unionization among faculty, graduate workers and postdoctoral scholars over the last decade, and provides links to hundreds of recent union contracts. The panel will also introduce scholars and practitioners to the unit-level data used in the Directory. This panel will provide essential information for those concerned with the contemporary higher education industry. Panelists: William Herbert, Hunter College; Jacob Apkarian, York College, City University of New York; and Joseph van der Naald, City University of New York Discussants: Adrienne E. Eaton, Rutgers University; and Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Brandeis University | |||
12.2 Why Can't We All Just Get Along? Accepting Each Others' Difference for a More Peaceful Workplace (Panel) 2 presenters will provide both educational content, and facilitate dialogue about this topic. We will focus on developing better habits to manage conflict, improving communication skills, and how to engage in difficult conversations. It will also touch upon the word respect and what it means to different people, through active listening and empathy. | |||
12.3 Amplifying Worker Power to Address Systemic Inequities in Healthcare (Roundtable) In this roundtable, experts from an RWJF-funded initiative, Expanding Worker Influence in Healthcare for Systemic Change, explore how worker organizations can address racial inequities and systemic injustices in healthcare. Through meaningful dialogue, panelists will share insights on strategies to empower worker influence, combat structural racism, and improve healthcare equity. Attendees will gain practical takeaways to foster collaboration and drive impactful change within polarized settings in healthcare. Panelists: Saqib Bhatti, ACRE (Action Center on Race and the Economy); Shaywaal Amin, Nursing Division, 1199SEIU-UHWE; and Alexis Major, Community Catalyst | |||
Presenters: Ayaj Rana*, Cornell University—Equilibrating the Exchange: Disintermediation in Triadic Labor Markets of the Remote Gig Economy Abraham Walker*, University of North Carolina—Neither Chains nor Networks: Modeling Ambivalence in the Global Automobile Industry Hadi El-Farr*, Rutgers University; and Kevin S. Kertechian, ESSCA School of Management—Prioritizing Work Recognition and Security Over Financial Rewards in a Fluid Society | |||
12.5 Climate Jobs Birds of a Feather Sponsored by Illinois Climate Jobs Institute (Birds of a Feather) | |||
12.6 Can Collaboration be Negotiated? (Panel) This panel will explore whether Collaboration can be negotiated. Panelists will cover 3 different examples: 1) current state & future prospects for expanding collaborative labor-management discussions on the development & design of AI tools & the lessons for future policy & practice; 2) interest-based negotiations within & between unions; 3) recent contract negotiations between Newark Public Schools & the Newark Teachers Union which called for formalized teacher voice in all schools through collaborative School Leadership Councils. Panelists: Thomas A. Kochan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Susan J. Schurman and Saul Rubinstein, Rutgers University | |||
3:45 - 5 pm | LERA 7th Junior Faculty Consortium -- Junior faculty research and reconnecting: A forum for junior faculty to connect and collaborate—Grand Crescent Collaboration is essential in the workplace as well as in work and employment research. This panel will be an opportunity for junior faculty to introduce themselves, describe their research and interests, and connect and collaborate with others in the field. The panel will be participatory and offer a chance for junior faculty to get to know each other and "reconnect" at the first junior faculty symposium since 2021. The panel will help junior faculty expand and deepen their networks in labor and employment relations and shape the field for years to come. | ||
5:15 - 6:30 pm | LERA General Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony—5th Avenue Room, 4th Fl. | ||
Sunday | Conference Activities • 6/15/2025 | ||
| 8 - 9: 15 am | |||
13.1 A.I.? Ay Yai Yai! A View from the Trenches on the Growing Ties Between Labor Issues and Technology (Panel) This session will discuss the practical labor relations implications of AI and workplace technologies, ranging from organizing campaigns to the interaction between employees, labor unions, and employers, to the use of Chat GPT, Clearbrief, CoPilot, and other AI tools in arbitration -- all as workplace law and government policy strive to stay at pace with change. Panelists: Thomas A. Lenz, Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Romo; Joseph L. Paller, Gilbert & Sackman, a Law Corporation; and Sara Dunn, National Labor Relations Board Region 19 | |||
13.2 Job Quality and Labor Standards in Hospitality Work (Symposium) Presenters: Tashlin Lakhani*, Cornell University; and Mark Gough, Pennsylvania State University—Franchising and Joint Employer Liability: Examining the Effects of Ownership Structure and Control on Workers' Access to Justice Jeffrey Waddoups*, University of Nevada Las Vegas; and C.K. Miller, University of Nevada, Las Vegas—Does Union Bargaining Raise Wages of Non-Union Workers? A Case Study of Las Vegas' Hospitality Industry Sebastian Fossati and Joseph Marchand*, University of Alberta—Women on the Margins: Gendered Effects of Large Minimum Wage Changes Hye Jin Rho, Michigan State University; and Christine Riordan*, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—From Rhythms to Stop, Drop and Roll: The Impact of Algorithmic Management on Discretion in Hotel Housekeeping Work | |||
13.4 Legal Environment and Managing Disputes (Symposium) Presenters: Maziar Jafary and Jules Carrière*, University of Ottawa—Arbitration Measures in Canadian Collective Agreements: The Cases of Collective Agreements in the Federal Public Service and Five Canadian Provinces Maha Shehade Switat*, Harvard University; and Yuval Feinstein, University of Haifa—Settling for (In)equality: The Impact of the "Vanishing Trial" on Gender and Ethnic Inequalities in Labour Legal Disputes Adam (Chuling) Huang*, Cornell University—The Effects of Local Political and Economic Conditions on Judicial Outcomes: Evidence from Labor Dispute Litigations in China Xinming Deng* and Peter Berg, Michigan State University—Unintended Consequences of Legal Aid: Employer Tactics and Labor Dispute Resolution in China | |||
13.5 Control Regimes and Dynamics (Symposium) Presenters: Sanjay Joseph Pinto*, University of Illinois Chicago/Rutgers/Cornell; Beth Gutelius, University of Illinois Chicago; Tamara Lee, Rutgers University; and Maite Tapia, Michigan State University—Eyes in the Warehouse: The Impact of Amazon's Surveillance on Workplace Collective Action Felix Lukowski*, Myriam Baum, Ana Santiago Vela and Kathrin Weis, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)—Overeducated for the Job? The Relationship between Technological Change, Works Councils, and Underutilization of Human Capital in German Firms Cory Runstedler*, University of Connecticut—It is About the People, Not the Package: Lessons from the Warehousing Sector Virginia Doellgast, Cornell University; Sean O'Brady*, McMaster University; and Jeonghun Kim, Cornell University—Spatial Control, Precarity, and Resistance in Digital Remote Work: An Analysis of 'Work from Home' in U.S. and Canadian Call Centers | |||
| 9:30 - 10:45 am | |||
14.1 LERA DR and LEL Council Presents: AI in Arbitration (Panel) This session will explore the current and future use of Generative AI in workplace arbitration and mediation, based on two novel surveys of labor neutrals and advocates. We will discuss how AI is currently being used by ADR stakeholders as well as the lack of consensus related to its effects on neutrality, efficiency, and overall propriety. Special attention will be given to the ethical and professional considerations of integrating AI into dispute resolution processes, including potential benefits and challenges. Panelists: Thomas A. Kochan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Patrick Mehler, Cornell University; and Christine Newhall, American Arbitration Association | |||
This session introduces computational social science (CSS) methods in employment relations. Attendees will explore CSS techniques applied to data sources such as social media and other text documents. Case studies will showcase insights into labor trends, social movements, and institutional impacts. Panelists will discuss CSS challenges and opportunities, including data access, privacy, and publishing tips. Panelists: Kenneth Frank, Michigan State University; Carla Lima Aranzaes, Pennsylvania State University; Peter Norlander, Loyola University of Chicago; and Tingting Zhang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | |||
The U.S. Department of Labor has two initiatives that promote ways that employees and employers can collaborate to strengthen companies, enhance productivity, foster business growth, and boost employee engagement. In this interactive workshop, you will learn the underlying principles of labor-management partnerships and employee ownership and how they are implemented. | |||
14.4 Theoretical Questions: ER, IR, HR and More (Symposium) Presenters: Carl Hughes*, University of Liverpool—A ‘New Unionism’ for 21st Century Britain: Developing Trade Union Organisation and Strategy Christopher Boone*, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Michael Paz, Purdue University Northwest; and Michael C. Sturman, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations—Employer Market Power and Implications for HR Theory and Practice | |||
Citizen assemblies enhance worker representation and voice, ensuring equity and fostering worker rights conversations to boost labor confidence, drive innovation, and promote fair workplace policies. Building on the 2022 Ontario Assembly and a 2023 national project, this session will examine assemblies as tools for representation and public policy involvement. It will present preliminary survey findings and discuss practical, methodological, and operational implications for organizing assemblies effectively. | |||
14.6 Gig Workers and Platforms Part I (Symposium) Presenters: Michael David Maffie* and Hector Hurtado, Cornell University—The Enshittification of Work: Platform Decay and Labor Conditions in the Gig Economy Laura Lam*, University of Toronto—To Relate or to Reason: How Managers Repair Worker and Client Disruptions Arising from the Distribution of Authority in Gig Work Settings Yihong Wan*, Rutgers University/Renmin University of China—Outsourcing Labor Management in China's Platform Economy: A Case Study of the Food Delivery Industry | |||
| 11 am - 12:15 pm | |||
Research data work is an emerging profession that is squarely in the middle of the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) revolution. Research data workers help to acquire, curate, and share data for reuse across a wide range of fields and disciplines. They see AI/ML enabling their work, rather than threatening it. There are challenges on the horizon, however, including ensuring appropriate ethical use of data with AI/ML models and sufficient collective organization to have the needed influence. Presenter: Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld*, Brandeis University—The Rise of AI/ML in Research Data Work: A New Era for Data Workers Panelists: Michael David Maffie, Cornell University; Sarah Stone, University of Washington; and Charles McElroy, Cleveland State University | |||
15.2 Teaching to Transgress: Experiential Learning and Role-Playing Games for Students Exploring Employment Relations, Power, and Social Change (Skill-Building) This is a participatory workshop that showcases "Rotten Tomatoes," a strategic role-playing game based on the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' Fair Food Program designed to teach employment relations, power dynamics, and social change. Led by a professor and students, this session immerses attendees in live gameplay, placing them in stakeholder roles within the agricultural supply chain. Explore how experiential learning engages students in critical thinking about fissured workplaces, ethical dilemmas, and social movements. | |||
15.3 Workplace Democracy and Ownership (Symposium) Presenters: William Foley*, Joseph Blasi, Adrienne E. Eaton, Douglas Kruse and Lisa Schur, Rutgers University—Employee Ownership for Union Workers: Positive Outcomes and Negative Perceptions Larry Liam Ching Liu*, Morgan State University—The Economic Precondition of Voice: How a Universal Basic Income (UBI) Can Promote Workplace Democracy Stefan Ivanovski*, Cornell University; and Dionne Pohler, University of Saskatchewan—Varieties of Worker Co-operatives Sudhir Chandra Das*, Banaras Hindu University—The Mediation and Moderation Effects of Quality of Work Life and Management Style in the Connection between Workplace Culture and Employee Relations: A Study on Indian and Indo-Japanese Manufacturing Organizations | |||
15.4 Topics in Labor and Employment (Symposium) Presenters: Kate Bronfenbrenner*, Cornell University; Katy Habr and Suresh Naidu, Columbia University; Anders Rhodin, Cornell University; and Victor Yengle, University of Virginia—Union Tactics Still Matter: NLRB Organizing in a Hostile Climate Jack Fiorito and Princess Anya*, Florida State University; and Lorenzo Frangi, University of Québec at Montréal—Public Approval and Disapproval of Labor Unions: The "Micro" Level Padraic X. Scanlan and Sandrine Julia Haentjens*, University of Toronto—From Offender to Employee: Canadian Prison Labour and Neoliberal Citizenship | |||
15.5 Gig Workers and Platforms Part II (Symposium) Presenters: Jacob McCartney*, Northern Kentucky University; and Matthew Hinkel, Alma College—Fundamental Limits to Labor Platform Growth Yongjin Nho*, Seoul National Univ. of Science and Technology; and Kyongwon Park, Hanyang University—Platform Business Institutionalization and Labor Market Outcomes: Analysis of South Korea's Taxi Industry Reform Virgel C. Binghay* and Jose Maria G. Binghay, University of the Philippines Diliman—The Influence of Social Media on Employer Branding in the Philippines: Transforming Workplace Perception |