Search for Presenters on the Program:
LERA Opening Plenary "Welcome to Minnesota: Updates from Minnesota Labor and Employment State Agencies"
1.05 New Attendee Orientation and Welcome
1.10 Work Security: Alternative Approaches to Layoffs
1.15 Emerging Rideshare Collective Bargaining Models
1.20 Scholar Meets Practitioner: Mediation in Research and in Practice
1.25 Building Bridges, Not Walls: Transformative Change through University-Labor-Community Collaboration
1.30 Author Meets Critics: Organizations and Workforce Aging: Stakeholders, Interests, and Human Capital Management
1.35 Frontiers in Occupational Licensing Research and Policy
1.40 Designing Work in the Age of Intelligent Systems
LERA Development Committee Meeting
LERA Hospitality Council Meeting
2.05 Scholar Meets Practitioner: Union Political Mobilization Campaigns in Research and in Practice
2.10 Cooperation Can Work: How Labor Management Cooperation Committees & Joint Labor Management Organizations Can be a Bridge to Labor Law Enforcement
2.15 Managing the Managed: Workers Under Algorithmic Systems
2.20 Reimagining Work, Voice, and Well-Being: Organizational Design and Workforce Sustainability
2.25 Bridging Legal and Contractual Worlds: Panel on External Law in Arbitration
2.30 Labor Revitalization in the Post-pandemic United States
2.35 Assessing Just Cause During Disciplinary Investigations
2.40 Moved Fast and Broke Labor Law? Tech Power, Trump's Labor Rollbacks, and the Future of Work in America
2.45 LERA Best Posters I: Institutions That Shape Work--Labor Law, Unions, and Enforcement
LERA Airlines, Railroads, and Trucking (Transportation) Council Meeting
LERA Diversity and Inclusion Committee Meeting
LERA Luncheon Plenary "Appreciating the Work of Musicians: Labor and Employment Relations in the Music Industry"
3.05 With the NLRB in Crisis, What's Next for Workers' Right to Organize?
3.10 Chicago LERA Presents "Med - Arb: Effective Models and Practices"
3.15 Skills, Skilled Workers, and the Contemporary Challenges
3.25 LERA Construction Council Presents "Building the High Road: Evidence and Impact of Unions, PLAs, and CBAs on Construction and Community Outcomes"
3.30 Gender, Institutions, and Inequality in Contemporary Labor Markets
3.35 Using Structured Innovation and Problem Solving in HR and Labor Relations
3.40 Stability in an Unstable Industry: Security Guards, Precarious Work, and New Pathways for Standards
LERA Chapter Representatives Meeting Hosted by the National Chapter Advisory Council (NCAC)
LERA Editorial Committee Meeting
4.05 States and Cities Standing in the Breach: Defending Worker Rights in the Midst of the Attack on Immigrants
4.10 AI in Labor Arbitration: Enhancing Efficiency and Access Through Smart Tools
4.20 The Quality of Jobs: New Survey Evidence from the American Job Quality Study
4.25 Advances in Union Research Using NLRB Election Data
4.30 How Policy Shapes Employment: Coverage, Wages, and Inequality
4.35 The Future of Shared Neutrals Programs
4.40 Decentering Finance: Worker Participation in Bankruptcy and Corporate Governance
LERA 79th Annual Meeting Program Committee Meeting
LERA Construction Council Meeting
LERA Annual Joint Universities' Welcome Reception
Meet the Neutrals Spotlight Event
LERA Annual Labor Breakfast: A Conversation with Minnesota Labor Leaders, Sponsored by the Labor Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Labor@Wayne, and the AFL-CIO
5.05 Industrial Relations and the Challenges of Global Platform Work: Part I
5.10 A Just Transition Begins at Work: Leveraging Job Quality for a Resilient Energy Economy
5.15 Union Organizing, Busting, and Membership in Health Care: Evidence from a Mixed-Methods Partnership
5.20 Expanding Equity in Arbitration: Redefining Factors to Address Arbitrator Bias Rooted in Limited Life Experience
5.25 LERA Construction Council Presents "The Plot to Subvert Labor Standards: Defending Davis-Bacon and State Prevailing Wage Laws from Corporate Attacks"
5.30 LERA/AILR Best Papers
5.35 Rising to the Challenge of Small Business Compliance with Labor Laws in (I/BIPOC) Communities
5.40 Power, Institutions, and Pathways at Work
LERA National Chapter Advisory Council Meeting
6.05 2026 LERA Annual Research Volume: Labor in Global Supply Chains (Lightning Round)
6.10 The Climate-Labor Movement: Lessons Learned and the Promise of an Equitable and Diverse Clean Energy Economy
6.15 Partnership and Contestation in Transnational Tripartism: The International Labor Organization and European Social Dialogue
6.20 A History of Labor Management Partnering
6.25 Utilizing All of the Available Talent: New Strategies for More Representative Arbitration
6.30 LERA Higher Education Council Presents "Worker Voice in Minnesota's Higher Education Sector"
6.35 Reproductive Justice as Labor Rights
6.40 How Inequality Enters and Accumulates in Labor Markets
6.45 LERA Best Posters II: Equity at Work--Identity, Voice, and Organizational Practice
LERA Membership Committee Meeting
LERA Automobile and Aerospace (Manufacturing) Council Meeting
Climate Jobs Birds of a Feather Luncheon, Hosted by Illinois Climate Jobs Institute
LERA Executive Board Meeting (by Invitation)
Plenary: Democracy and Workers' Rights in America: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
7.05 Labor in Global Supply Chains I: Worker Experiences with Private Regulations
7.10 Labor and the Transition to Electric Vehicles: A Global Perspective on Work and the Transformation of the Automotive Industry
7.15 When the Dance Becomes a Mosh Pit: The Changing Dynamics of Collective Bargaining
7.20 LERA Higher Education Council Presents "New Perspectives on Collective Bargaining for Graduate Student Employees"
7.25 The NLRB: Scenarios for the Future
7.30 From Labels to Understanding: Communication Strategies for Bridging Divides
7.35 Worker Voice and Work Outcomes in the Age of AI
Deans, Chairs, and Directors Council Meeting (DCDC)
8.05 Industrial Relations and the Challenges of Global Platform Work: Part II
8.10 Author Meets Critics: Get on the Job and Organize by Jaz Brisack
8.15 Labor-Management Partnership and Worker Engagement for Use of AI and Technology at Kaiser Permanente
8.20 Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Worker Welfare: Examples from Minnesota
8.25 Where Workers Go: Migration, Tightness, and Job Transitions
8.30 Taking the Study off the Shelf: Research and Action for Diversity in the Building Trades
8.35 From Evidence to Action: Connecting Research, Policy and Organizing on AI and Work
8.40 Working Through Differences: Methods to Bridge the Divide (Hosted by ALRA)
Higher Education Council Meeting
LERA Presidents' Breakfast (by Invitation)
9.05 What Were They Thinking? Negotiators Share Controversial New Contract Language Proposals and How It Worked Out
9.10 How Minneapolis Became a Mecca for Worker Justice Organizing: The View from Minneapolis Worker Rights Organizations and Results from a National Survey of Worker Centers
9.15 New Frontiers in Computational Methods for Employment and Labor Research
9.20 Conducting Fair, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Union Elections: Lessons and Best Practices
9.25 So, You're Thinking About Maybe Becoming a Neutral (Arbitrator, Mediator, Investigator, etc.)?
9.30 State Attempts to Regulate Private Sector Labor Relations to Fill the NLRB "Gap" (Hosted by ALRA)
9.35 Reasonable Accommodations: When, Where, What, and How To
9.40 Technology, Governance, and the Changing Nature of Work
LERA 28th Annual PhD Student Consortium
LERA Labor Studies and Union Research Council Meeting
LERA Public Sector Council Meeting
LERA Health Care Council Meeting
10.05 Labor in Global Supply Chains II: The Implications of Due Diligence Legislations and Debates for Labor in Global Supply Chains
10.10 Examining the Long History of Employer Opposition to Unions and Worker Agency in the United States
10.15 NorCal LERA Presents "All in the Family: Celebrating California Public Sector Collective Bargaining with Practical Advice for Labor Management Committees"
10.20 LERA Competitive Papers
10.25 Building Sustainable Labor-Management Relationships Through Grievance Mediation
10.30 Strategy and Organizing in the Private Sector
10.35 Democratizing Tripartite Regulation
10.40 The State of Publicly Supported ADR (Hosted by ALRA)
10.45 LERA Best Posters III: Governing the Future of Work--Technology, ESG, and Social Responsibility
LERA 28th Annual PhD Student Consortium Cont'd
LERA Chapter Administration Workshop Hosted by National Chapter Advisory Council
LERA Annual Presidential Address and Luncheon
11.05 New Frontiers in Collective Bargaining: High-Tech, Digital Media, Starbucks Cafes, and Museums
11.10 Update from the National Labor Relations Board (Hosted by ALRA)
11.15 A Cross-Sector Focus on Worker Dignity in the Face of Technological Change
11.20 Labor Management Partnership between Kaiser Permanente and The Alliance of Health Care Unions in Historical Perspective
11.25 Migration, Race, and Inequality
11.30 Organizing in Professional and Emerging Sectors
11.35 Legal Trends in Arbitration and Their Impact in Employment and Beyond
LERA International Council Meeting
12.05 Labor in Global Supply Chains III: Gender-based Violence and Living Wage Issues in Global Supply Chains
12.10 Arbitrator Training Development: Preparing the Next Generation of Neutrals
12.15 The Role of Union and Labor-Management Relations in Promoting American Democracy
12.20 Political Windows and New Institutional Pathways for Worker Rights
12.25 Bridging the Divide at Public Universities: Tripartite Solutions
12.30 Author Meets Critics: Legalized Inequalities
12.35 Making Mediation More Effective: Timing, Preparation, and Impact
12.40 Regulating Care: Labor, Licensure, and Access
LERA Councils Meeting
LERA 8th Junior Faculty Consortium
LERA General Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony
13.05 Drive-thru Unionism: Organizing Workers in the U.S. Fast Food Industry
13.10 State Employment Standards Enforcement More Important than Ever: The Minnesota Example
13.15 Author Meets Critics -- Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment
13.25 LERA Editorial Committee Presents "From Manuscript to Publication: A Workshop with Journal Editors"
13.30 Conflict, Enforcement, and the State in Modern Labor Relations
14.05 New Research on Technological Change and Power at Work
14.10 Stepping On Federal Toes? Dealing With New State and Local Labor Law
14.15 Access, Advancement, and Autonomy: Disability and Work Across Traditional and Gig Labor Markets
14.20 The Architecture of Collective Bargaining
14.25 The Long Shadow of Labor Law
14.30 Who Bears the Risk? Workers, Firms, and Adjustment in Times of Shock
15.05 Teaching, Training, and Field Work across Deep Divides in Society
15.10 AI, Worker Voice, and Job Quality: Findings from the Telecommunications, Call Center, and Game Development Industries
15.15 Union Strategy
15.20 Transnational and Global Collective Action
Thursday
Conference Activities • 5/28/2026
8 - 8:45 am
LERA Opening Plenary "Welcome to Minnesota: Updates from Minnesota Labor and Employment State Agencies"
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
Minnesota has become the epicenter of a divided nation in recent years. From the murder of George Floyd to the impact of federal immigration activities, people want solutions for a changing world. This panel of labor and employment state agency leaders will provide information on recent changes to Minnesota labor and employment laws.
Moderator:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
Featured Speakers:
Evan Rowe
Deputy Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Nicole Blissenbach
Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
; and
Johnny Villarreal
Commissioner of Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services
9 - 10:15 am
Concurrent Sessions
1.05
New Attendee Orientation and Welcome
(LERA resources)—Bergen 1
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 navigate this conference. The goals of the session are to help newer attendees (1) feel welcome at this LERA annual meeting, (2) take full advantage of what the LERA annual meeting has to offer, (3) learn about ways to get more involved in LERA, (4) develop connections with other attendees, and (5) have any questions answered.
Moderators:
Frank Mullins
University of Alabama in Huntsville
; and
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
1.10
Work Security: Alternative Approaches to Layoffs
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
The SHARE Union (AFSCME) and UMass Memorial Health use a "work security" approach to layoffs, building on a model developed by the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (AFSCME) and Harvard University. Work security focuses on placing RIF’ed union members into new jobs within the organizations. While it includes standard protections such as paid notice, severance, and recall rights, it adds features such as a voluntary swap option instead of bumping, joint labor-management case-management teams, extended income security, temporary assignments, and protection from layoffs caused by efficiencies gained through joint process-improvement efforts.
Moderator:
Andrea Caceres
SHARE/AFSCME
Panelists:
Janet Wilder
SHARE/AFSCME
; and
Tasha Williams
Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers
Discussant:
Kris Rondeau
AFSCME
1.15
Emerging Rideshare Collective Bargaining Models
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 3
California and Massachusetts have recently passed laws creating a path for 900,000 rideshare drivers at companies including Uber and Lyft to unionize and bargain collectively. These new state policies, based on creating an easier path to form a union and bargaining across an entire sector of the economy rather than with an individual employer, represent critical experiments for how to rapidly improve jobs in today's economy. Drivers are also pushing for Minnesota and Illinois to consider action. Attendees will hear from labor unions, researchers, and workers about how these new and emerging policies.
Moderator:
David Madland
Center for American Progress
Panelists:
Enrique Lopezlira
University of California, Berkeley
Damon Coulter
SEIU
; and
A RideShare Driver's Perspective
RideShare Company TBD
1.20
Scholar Meets Practitioner: Mediation in Research and in Practice
(Other)—Fjords 2
This session features a dialogue between a researcher and a practitioner who both work in the area of mediation. Key topics in this conversation include what does the research literature say about this topic, how do professionals approach this topic in practice, where do research and practice align, where do they differ, and what would be useful to learn from each other moving forward. Come learn about the state of art in mediation and be inspired by the value of intentional scholar-practitioner exchange.
Moderator:
Ariel C. Avgar
Cornell University
Panelists:
Dionne Pohler
Cornell University
; and
Javier Ramirez
Cornell University, ILR School
1.25
Building Bridges, Not Walls: Transformative Change through University-Labor-Community Collaboration
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
Chair:
Larissa Petrucci
NorCal Construction Industry Compliance
Presenters:
Carla Lima Aranzaes
Pennsylvania State University
; and
Destiny Blackwell
*,
Amazon Worker - Organizer with CAUSE (Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment)
Building Capacity to Challenge the Giant
Lola Loustaunau
*,
University of Wisconsin Madison
; and
Michaela Hoffelmeyer
University of Wisconsin-Madison
In Solidarity, Not Service: The Praxis of Co-Creating Research with a Worker Coalition
Ericka Wills
*,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Working from Common Ground: University-Labor Collaborative Strategic Plan Building
Sara Gia Trongone
*,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
; and
Jennifer Gadis
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Worker-Centered Research & School Food Workers' Fight to Revalue their Labor
Discussant:
Larissa Petrucci
NorCal Construction Industry Compliance
1.30
Author Meets Critics: Organizations and Workforce Aging: Stakeholders, Interests, and Human Capital Management
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
This purpose of this "Author Meets Critics" session is to discuss the 2025 book "Organizations and Workforce Aging: Stakeholders, Interests, and Human Capital Management" by Peter Berg and Matt Piszczek (Edward Elgar Publishing). The session will begin with a presentation by the authors about the book's arguments advocating for and building a stakeholder-informed perspective on workforce aging that acknowledges organizations and their institutional context as key determiners of practices that might help older workers age more successfully and work longer. The presentation will be followed by a discussion from workforce aging scholars with opportunities for audience participation and questions.
Moderator:
Phyllis Moen
University of Minnesota
Presenters:
Peter Berg
*,
Michigan State University
; and
Matthew Piszczek
Wayne State University
Organizations and Workforce Aging: Stakeholders, Interests, and Human Capital Management
Discussant:
Mary Hamman
Indeed.com
1.35
Frontiers in Occupational Licensing Research and Policy
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Chair:
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Presenters:
Kihwan Bae
West Virginia University
Morris M. Kleiner
University of Minnesota
; and
Wenchen Wang
Illinois Institute of Technology
Measuring Licensing Stringency: New Evidence from a Comprehensive Dataset on Cosmetology Regulation
Tamara Davis
and
Steve Holloway
*,
State of Colorado
Mark Klee
Bureau of the Census
; and
Victoria M. Udalova
U.S. Census Bureau
Validating Occupational Licensing Coverage and Attainment: New Evidence from Survey and Administrative Data
Ethan Ellis
*,
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
; and
Corissa Marson
University of Minnesota
State Requirements for Licensure: Occupational Licensure at the Intensive Margin
1.40
Designing Work in the Age of Intelligent Systems
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Hsiao-Hui Tai
Chinese Culture University
Presenters:
Nien-chi Liu
Yu Chen
and
Ming-Jhe Jeng
*,
National Taiwan University
From Task to Workflow Fit: Generative AI in Clinical Nursing Settings
Yue He
*,
Li Wang
Xin Wei
and
Zhong-Xing Su
Renmin University of China
Artificial Intelligence-based Negative Feedback, Employee Perceived Justice and HRM Attribution: The moderating role of tangible
John McCarthy
and
Qixin Lin
*,
Cornell University
Generative AI and Job Attraction: The Moderating Role of Union Status and Labor-Management Partnership Strength
9 - 10:15 am
LERA Development Committee Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
; and
Alexander J.S. Colvin
Cornell University
Members:
Peter Berg
Michigan State University
Rudy Gonzalez
San Francisco Building Trades Council
Jennifer M. Harmer
University of Toronto
Beverly Harrison
Arbitrator/Mediator
Mike Lillich
Labor and Employment Relations Association
Shankar Viswanathan
Kaiser Permanente
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
9 - 10:15 am
LERA Hospitality Council Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
Christine Riordan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Hye Jin Rho
Michigan State University
10:30 - 11:45 am
Concurrent Sessions
2.05
Scholar Meets Practitioner: Union Political Mobilization Campaigns in Research and in Practice
(Other)—Bergen 1
This session features a dialogue between a researcher and practitioners who work in the area of union political mobilization campaigns. Key topics in this conversation include what does the research literature say about this topic, how do professionals approach this topic in practice, and what would be useful to learn from each other moving forward. Come learn about union political mobilization campaigns, including responses to Operation Metro Surge, and be inspired by the value of intentional scholar-practitioner exchange.
Moderator:
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou
President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Panelists:
Ryan Lamare
London School of Economics
; and
Liz Xiong
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
2.10
Cooperation Can Work: How Labor Management Cooperation Committees & Joint Labor Management Organizations Can be a Bridge to Labor Law Enforcement
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 2
This session will focus on the formation of Labor Management Cooperation Committees (LMCCs) and Joint Management Organizations to address labor related issues including, but not limited to, the enforcement of labor laws at the local, state, and federal level.
The following information will be provided during the session:
(1) What Labor Management Cooperation Committees (LMCCs) and Joint Labor Management Organizations are.
(2) What they can and cannot do, including success stories.
(3) How they can be funded.
(4) The role LMCCs and other similar organizations can play in enforcing labor laws at the local, state, and federal level.
The expected audience could consist of labor and union representatives, government representatives that enforce labor laws, contracting associations, and representatives from LMCCs and Joint Labor Management Organizations.
Moderator:
Ani Darbinyan
Labor Management Cooperation Committee, IUOE Local 12
Panelists:
Dina Morsi
NorCal Construction and Industry Compliance
Shannon M. Chambers
Northern Nevada Operating Engineers Contract Compliance Fund, Inc. (NNOECC)
; and
James Kunz, III
Pennsylvania Foundation for Fair Contracting, Executive Director
2.15
Managing the Managed: Workers Under Algorithmic Systems
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Maria Figueroa
SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government
Presenters:
Scott B. Martin
*,
Columbia University
Algorithmic Transparency and Work Intensification at Amazon: U.S. State-Level Warehouse Worker Protection Acts, Worker Organizi
Bo-Yi Lee
*,
National Tsing-Hua University
; and
Ching-Yang Pan
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
What Is a "Fair Deal"? Food Delivery Couriers' Perspectives on Proposed Platform Regulations Through a Psychological Contract Lens
John McCarthy
and
Qixin Lin
*,
Cornell University
Negotiating Identity in the Age of AI: Evaluating Creative Labor on Fiverr
2.20
Reimagining Work, Voice, and Well-Being: Organizational Design and Workforce Sustainability
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Chair:
Phyllis Moen
University of Minnesota
Presenters:
Erin L. Kelly
*,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Raquel Kessinger
Boston College
; and
Meg Lovejoy
Harvard University
Emergent Empowerment or Contained Communication? A Process Study of Implementing New Voice Channels in U.S. Fulfillment Centers
Wen Fan
*,
Juliet Schor
and
Guolin Gu
Boston College
; and
Phyllis Moen
University of Minnesota
Can the Four-day Week Vanquish the Ideal Worker Norm?
Brittany Bond
Duanyi Yang
* and
Sunita Sah
Cornell University
Burnt Out Buffers: How Organizational Interventions Can Alleviate Manager Burnout
Ronald E Neimark
*,
University of Illinois at Chicago
Musculoskeletal Injury amongst Illinois Hospital Workers: Incidence, Severity and Staffing: 2018-2023
2.25
Bridging Legal and Contractual Worlds: Panel on External Law in Arbitration
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
Statutory employment claims are showing up in arbitration with increasing frequency--and not always in predictable ways. This fast-paced, practitioner-centered panel brings together seasoned union and management attorneys, guided by an experienced labor arbitrator, to unpack how external law is reshaping grievance arbitration and what advocates must do to be prepared. Participants will gain concrete, practice-ready insights on navigating discrimination grievances, ADA and FMLA leave disputes, and wage claims that bump up against the Fair Labor Standards Act. Panelists will walk through real scenarios, highlight strategic pitfalls, and offer tools for framing (or defending) statutory arguments within the confines of a collective bargaining agreement. Expect a candid discussion of what works--and what doesn’t--when statutory rights enter the arbitration arena. Whether you represent employers, unions, or employees, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies you can apply immediately in hearings, grievance handling, and contract administration. An interactive Q&A ensures you get answers to the issues you’re facing right now
Moderator:
Heidi B. Parker
Arbitrator/Mediator
Panelists:
Amy Moor Gaylord
Akerman LLP
; and
Jerry Marzullo
Asher, Gittler & D'Alba, Ltd.
2.30
Labor Revitalization in the Post-pandemic United States
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
This session brings together important new research on how workers and their organizations are building collective power in the post-pandemic United States. The topics covered in this session explore campaigns and other efforts by various types of labor organizations, including worker centers, new unions, and established unions that primarily represent marginalized workers. These presentations are tied together because they all critically investigate challenges facing worker collective action exacerbated by the Trump administration's position towards marginalized workers, labor policy, and other workplace issues. This session hopes to advance important discussions about labor revitalization in the 21st century.
Moderator:
Matthew Fischer-Daly
Rutgers University
Presenters:
Carla Lima Aranzaes
*,
Pennsylvania State University
From Tweets to Ties: Disseminating Collective Action Frames During The BAmazon Union Campaign
John Kallas
* and
Anh Lam
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Redefining the Word 'Union': Examining how Subnational Variation Shapes Strategic Choice and the Methods by Which Low-wage Service Workers Build Collective Power
Anh Lam
*,
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Reframing Academic Freedom as a Labor Right: How Teacher Unions Defend Academic Freedom in Pre-K-12 Public Education
Adolfho Romero
*,
Cornell University
From Crisis to Capacity: Worker Centers and the New Infrastructures of Worker Power in Pandemic and Post-Pandemic New York
2.35
Assessing Just Cause During Disciplinary Investigations
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
This session examines how the Seven Tests of Just Cause can be used as a practical framework during the disciplinary investigation phase by both union and management practitioners. Rather than viewing just cause solely through the lens of arbitration, the session focuses on how investigative choices made early in the process can significantly influence how a case is ultimately evaluated.
Presenters will discuss how applying the Seven Tests during investigations can guide evidence collection, witness interviews, and documentation, helping advocates identify strengths and vulnerabilities in their case. The session will also address how this analysis can inform settlement strategy by clarifying risk, leverage, and the likelihood of success at hearing. Participants will leave with concrete tools for aligning investigative strategy with their theory of the case and making more informed decisions before arbitration.
Moderator:
Heather Keegan
Arbitrator
Panelists:
Peter Hanlon
Arbitrator
Thomas Pontolillo
Arbitrator/Mediator/Fact-Finder
Buffy Andrews
Chief of Staff, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association
; and
Christina Haselberger
Ohio Office of Collective Bargaining, Policy Analyst
2.40
Moved Fast and Broke Labor Law? Tech Power, Trump's Labor Rollbacks, and the Future of Work in America
(Public policy implementation)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
The ground beneath American workers is shifting quickly. Big Tech is expanding its reach, AI is rewriting the rules of employment, and the Trump administration is rapidly dismantling key labor protections -- from gutting the National Labor Relations Board to dropping major enforcement cases against powerful corporations. This session pulls back the curtain on how tech billionaires and federal policy are reshaping labor law in real time -- sometimes quietly, sometimes aggressively -- and what it means for the future of work, democracy, and economic fairness. We'll explore whether we're witnessing the end of an era of worker rights as we've known them, or the beginning of a new cycle of organizing, resistance, and innovation in labor power.
Moderator:
Emily Martin
Washington State PERC
Panelists:
SaNni Lemonidis
Streepy Lemonidis Consulting and Law Group, PLLC
; and
John Henry
Summit Law Group
2.45
LERA Best Posters I: Institutions That Shape Work--Labor Law, Unions, and Enforcement
(Research-centered)—Denmark Commons Foyer
Chair:
Hye Jin Rho
Michigan State University
Presenters:
Andrew Keyes
*,
California State University, Fresno
; and
Jack Fiorito
Florida State University
Allocating Union Resources for Prosocial Unionism and Workplace Instrumentality
Kayla Harte Adams
*,
Nora Rani Haddad
and
Ritu Sidhu
California State University, Sacramento
; and
Boniface Michael
California State University Sacramento
Arbitration: Relationships and Preparation
Ethan Ellis
*,
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Child Labor Work Hours Restrictions
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA Airlines, Railroads, and Trucking (Transportation) Council Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderators:
Walter Darr, Jr.
National Mediation & Conflict Solutions
; and
Morris M. Kleiner
University of Minnesota
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA Diversity and Inclusion Committee Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderator:
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
Panelists:
Asha Alt
DC Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Adrienne E. Eaton
and
Rebecca Kolins Givan
Rutgers University
Frank Mullins
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Kevin Stokes
DC Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
12 - 1:30 pm
LERA Luncheon Plenary "Appreciating the Work of Musicians: Labor and Employment Relations in the Music Industry"
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
The work of musicians and other musical artists centers on performance, building on mastery, creativity, rehearsal, and often surprisingly challenging physical demands. It also involves community connections, education, and collaboration. This panel lifts up this work from the perspective of a performer, a labor leader, and a management leader. This connects to the LERA Community Council on Collective Bargaining and the proposed council on Sports and Entertainment.
Moderator:
Rosemary Batt
Cornell University
Discussant:
Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld
Brandeis University
Featured Speakers:
Douglas Ewart
Jamaican musician and educator
Jeffrey D. Boyd
American Guild of Musical Artists
; and
Paul J. Zech
Felhaber Larson
1:45 - 3 pm
Concurrent Sessions
3.05
With the NLRB in Crisis, What's Next for Workers' Right to Organize?
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 1
U.S. labor law, and workers' right to organize, is facing an existential crisis. Even if the Board survives the challenge to its constitutionality and the next Administration is more friendly to its mission, the loss of expertise has done long-term damage to its ability to enforce workers' rights. So, what will come/should come next for enforcement of workers' collective rights under the Trump Administration and beyond? The roundtable panel consists of a diverse group of experts on labor law and the right to organize with a background in academia, policy and enforcement, law and policy advocacy, and union organizing.
Moderator:
John A. Logan
San Francisco State University
Panelists:
Jody Calemine
AFL-CIO, Director of Advocacy
Jennifer Abruzzo
former General Counsel of the Biden NLRB
; and
Jaz Brisack
Organizing Director of the Inside Organizer School and co-founder of Starbucks Workers United
Discussant:
Nelson Lichtenstein
University of California Santa Barbara
3.10
Chicago LERA Presents "Med - Arb: Effective Models and Practices"
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
The departure of most FMCS mediators has prompted parties to reevaluate their dispute resolution strategies, leading to an increased interest in mediation-arbitration for workplace disputes. Med-Arb provides finality and enforceability but is not widely taught. This session will offer insights into various Med-Arb models and their effective application.
Moderator:
Brian Clauss
Arbitrator
Discussants:
Amy Moor Gaylord
Akerman LLP
; and
Jerry Marzullo
Asher, Gittler & D'Alba, Ltd.
3.15
Skills, Skilled Workers, and the Contemporary Challenges
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Presenters:
Deepa Kylasam Iyer
*,
Cornell University
How does Generative AI Impact Creativity at Work?
Shruti Appalla
*,
Cornell University
The Skill of Being Human
Or Shay
*,
Cornell University
Do Collective Bargaining Agreements Help School Districts Retain Skilled Teachers?
3.25
LERA Construction Council Presents "Building the High Road: Evidence and Impact of Unions, PLAs, and CBAs on Construction and Community Outcomes"
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
This session examines how labor standards, local hire, and union and non-union contractor practices shape costs, timeliness, and community outcomes in construction and renewable energy projects. Panelists will present research on the financial impact of worker misclassification, the economic and organizing effects of local versus non-local labor, and evidence that union contractors deliver more efficient and cost-effective projects. A discussion of successful community benefits agreements in Nashville will highlight practical strategies for ensuring that public investments support fair labor standards and community well-being.
Moderator:
Benjamin Aaron Kreider
North America's Building Trades Unions
Panelists:
Dale Belman
Michigan State University
Lucas A. Franco
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
; and
Larissa Petrucci
NorCal Construction Industry Compliance
Discussant:
Luke Kuhl
National Electrical Contractors Association
3.30
Gender, Institutions, and Inequality in Contemporary Labor Markets
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Chair:
Adrienne E. Eaton
Rutgers University
Presenters:
Ryan Lamare
*,
London School of Economics
; and
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
The Role of Political Parties in Shaping Women's Labor Market Policies and Outcomes
Shannon Potter
Laval University
Dionne Pohler
*,
Cornell University
Kate Hayman
and
Megan Landes
University of Toronto
Eliminating the Motherhood Pay Penalty? Flexible Work Design and (Non)Greedy Compensation in a High-Earning Occupation
Duanyi Yang
*,
Cornell University
; and
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Burned Out and Boxed In: Gendered Constraints on Voice and Exit in China's Tech Industry
Lin Xiu
* and
Yufei Ren
University of Minnesota Duluth
; and
Thomas Lange
University of Bern, Switzerland, and University of Minnesota
The Happiness Premium? Gender and Employment Sector Differences in Well-Being in China
3.35
Using Structured Innovation and Problem Solving in HR and Labor Relations
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
HR and LR professionals have been tackling problems the same way for decades. Structured innovation and problem solving processes solve many of the HR/LR problems that seem unsolvable, too costly, or too time consuming to solve as well as innovating new approaches. Since the goal of structured innovation is finding a durable solution, it is ideally suited for employment and labor relationship. It provides a solid foundation for employee engagement and productive labor-management initiatives. It will draw upon specific strains of the structured innovation research. The audience takeaways include various structured processes and how to start using them.
Moderator:
Robert Chiaravalli
Strategic Labor & Human Resources, LLC
Panelists:
Pedro N. Ferro
Management-side CEO
Ken Bell
Management, Retired Operations Consultant
; and
Garrick Hu
Retired CTO and VP of Engineering
3.40
Stability in an Unstable Industry: Security Guards, Precarious Work, and New Pathways for Standards
(Public policy implementation)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
This panel brings together policy analysis and worker stories to examine why security guard jobs remain highly precarious and what's being done about it. Researchers and practitioners will assess industry structures, labor standards, and enforcement gaps, while frontline workers describe daily challenges around pay, scheduling, and safety. The session highlights recent union and legislative efforts to improve job quality and create more stable, sustainable careers in private security.
Moderator:
Kassandra Hernandez
University of California Berkeley
Panelists:
Karla Elizabeth Walter
Center for American Progress
Enrique Lopezlira
University of California, Berkeley
; and
Discussant Opportunity Available
Interested? Contact LERA
1:45 - 3 pm
LERA Chapter Representatives Meeting Hosted by the National Chapter Advisory Council (NCAC)
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
William Canak
Middle Tennessee State University (ret.)
; and
Bonnie Castrey
Dispute Resolution Services
1:45 - 3 pm
LERA Editorial Committee Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chair:
Xiangmin (Helen) Liu
Rutgers University
Members:
Daniel B. Cornfield
Vanderbilt University
Jack Fiorito
Florida State University
Daniel Gilbert
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Susan N. Houseman
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Jim Lance
Cornell University Press
Mike Lillich
Labor and Employment Relations Association
Stephen R. Sleigh
Sleigh Strategy LLC
Howard Stanger
Canisius University
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
3:15 - 4:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions
4.05
States and Cities Standing in the Breach: Defending Worker Rights in the Midst of the Attack on Immigrants
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 1
As the current administration continues to dismantle protections for immigrant workers, state and local governments have in many parts of the country stepped in to fill this void. This panel will bring together leaders from Illinois, Minnesota, Chicago, and Minneapolis labor standards enforcement agencies to better understand how these agencies are working to protect immigrant workers and their families in a time where these workers are particularly vulnerable and less likely to engage with the government.
Moderator:
Janice Fine
Rutgers University
Panelists:
Brian Walsh
Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights
Miguel Campos
Chicago Office of Labor Standards
Jessica Grosz
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
; and
Jane R. Flanagan
Illinois Department of Labor
4.10
AI in Labor Arbitration: Enhancing Efficiency and Access Through Smart Tools
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how labor arbitration is managed, argued, and decided. This session explores how AI tools - used by advocates, arbitrators, and administering organizations - are improving efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding access to arbitration services. Panelists will share practical examples of how AI assists (rather than replaces) the human judgment central to fair and trusted dispute resolution. Attendees will gain insight into current and emerging applications of AI in arbitration case management, document analysis, and drafting processes, and leave with ideas for responsibly integrating technology into their own practice.
Moderator:
Aaron Schmidt
American Arbitration Association
Panelists:
Bradley A. Areheart
University of Tennessee College of Law
; and
Jess Anna King
Minnesota Public Employment Relations Board
4.20
The Quality of Jobs: New Survey Evidence from the American Job Quality Study
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Chair:
Susan N. Houseman
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Presenters:
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez
Columbia University
; and
Thomas A. Kochan
*,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Introducing Worker Voice as a Dimension of Job Quality
Erin L. Kelly
*,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
; and
Kirsten F. Siebach
Johns Hopkins University
Gender and Job Quality in 2025: Looking Beyond Pay and Beyond the Binary
Katharine G. Abraham
*,
University of Maryland
Susan N. Houseman
and
Beth C. Truesdale
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Self-employment and Job Quality
Discussant:
Abigail Wozniak
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
4.25
Advances in Union Research Using NLRB Election Data
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
Chair:
Jack Fiorito
Florida State University
Presenters:
Zachary Schaller
*,
Colorado State University
Samuel Young
Arizona State University
; and
Jonne Kamphorst
Stanford University
The NLRB Election Data Project: A Newly Harmonized Record of Union Organizing Since 1962
Miriam Venturini
*,
University of California, Riverside
The Imperfect Union: Labor Racketeering, Corruption Exposure, and Its Consequences
Jianxuan Lei
*,
University of Minnesota
Normalizing Opposition to Labor Unions: The Impact of the 1981 PATCO Strike on Union Organizing
Samuel Young
*,
Arizona State University
; and
Sean Yixiang Wang
U.S. Census Bureau
Unionization, Employer Opposition, and Establishment Closure
4.30
How Policy Shapes Employment: Coverage, Wages, and Inequality
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Chair:
Ronald E Neimark
University of Illinois at Chicago
Presenters:
Soohyun Roh
*,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
From Wallets to Wages: Consumer Income, Job Design, and Pay Disparities
Joy J. Kim
*,
Rutgers University
Complaints about FLSA Violations in the Home Health Industry: Analyses of Five Southern States
Youngmin Chu
*,
University of Minnesota
Where Have the Middle-Wage Workers Gone?: Technology and Gendered Pathways in a Polarizing Labor Market
4.35
The Future of Shared Neutrals Programs
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Shared Neutrals Programs were, until recently one of the best resources for U.S. Federal Agencies to resolve EEO complaints at minimal cost to the agency. Can this model, which is based upon utilizing mediator talent within organizations be replicated in other sectors of the economy? Join Tom Melancon and Christy Yoshitomi in a lively discussion to explore how you might use this model in your organization.
Moderator:
Tom Louis Melancon
Labor Relations Professional
Panelists:
Christy Yoshitomi
American Water
4.40
Decentering Finance: Worker Participation in Bankruptcy and Corporate Governance
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Sanford M. Jacoby
University of California Los Angeles
Presenters:
Lenore Palladino
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Myth that Shareholders are Investors
Alvin Antonio Velazquez
*,
Indiana University; School of Law
Bankrupting Human Capital
Matthew T. Bodie
*,
University of Minnesota, School of Law
Codetermination and Beyond: Considering American Models for Worker Participation
Discussant:
Wilma B. Liebman
Former Chair NLRB and New York University Law School
3:15 - 4:30 pm
LERA 79th Annual Meeting Program Committee Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chair:
Hal Ruddick
Alliance of Health Care Unions
Members:
Mark Anner
Rutgers University
Candace Archer
AFL-CIO
Holland Atkinson
Hennepin County
Ariel C. Avgar
Cornell University
Kate Bahn
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Meeta Bass
Bass Dispute Resolution Services LLC
Matthew M. Bodah
University of Rhode Island
Tequila Brooks
Attorney and Comparative Labor Scholar
Matthew Capece
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Stephanie Fortado
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld
Brandeis University
Rudy Gonzalez
San Francisco Building Trades Council
Amena Haynes
Management
Tazewell Victor Hurst III
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Homer C. La Rue
Howard University School of Law & Board Chair, RCI, Inc.
Philip A. LaPorte
Georgia State University (ret.)
Michael Loconto
Loconto ADR
David Madland
Center for American Progress
E. Patrick McDermott
U.S. Air Force Academy
Christy Yoshitomi
American Water
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
3:15 - 4:30 pm
LERA Construction Council Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderators:
Benjamin Aaron Kreider
North America's Building Trades Unions
; and
Timothy Watkins
Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota
4:45 - 6:15 pm
LERA Annual Joint Universities' Welcome Reception
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
Moderator:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Meet the Neutrals Spotlight Event
—Norway 1, 2, & 3
This event requires a separate registration in advance of the conference. Please visit: raycorollary.org/lera2026/ for more information. The event is designed to spotlight the qualifications and career highlights of a featured group of neutrals in the labor and employment law field, who will be introduced to selectors attending the conference. The Ray Corollary Initiative, Inc. (RCI) is hosting this event as part of the RCI’s mission to identify and utilize all of the available talent in the dispute resolution field. Specifically, the RCI seeks to provide opportunities for those who select ADR professionals and for qualified professionals who have not had the same exposure as more established neutrals, to meet, connect, and overcome some of the difficulties that exist in forming new business relationships. This event is not intended for senior, well-established arbitrators and mediators. Food and drinks will be provided.
Moderator:
J. Christopher Heagarty
Ray Corollary Initiative, Inc.
Friday
Conference Activities • 5/29/2026
7:45 - 8:45 am
LERA Annual Labor Breakfast: A Conversation with Minnesota Labor Leaders, Sponsored by the Labor Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Labor@Wayne, and the AFL-CIO
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
Moderators:
Robert Bruno
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Candace Archer
AFL-CIO
Panelists:
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou
President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
9 - 10:15 am
Concurrent Sessions
5.05
Industrial Relations and the Challenges of Global Platform Work: Part I
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Hector Hurtado Pineda
University of Toronto
Presenters:
Hector Hurtado Pineda
*,
University of Toronto
; and
Michael David Maffie
Cornell University
Algorithmic Folklore: How Algorithmic Beliefs Impact Platform and Peer Perceptions of Gig Workers
Xueyu Wang
*,
University of Toronto
What Do Unions Do in Gig Work? The Collision of State-Corporatism Unions and Giant Platform Capital in China
Wen Li Thian
*,
Cornell University
Algorithmic Moneylending: Debt among Super App Workers
Jeremy Lewis
*,
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Understanding the Use of Third-Party Staffing Platforms
5.10
A Just Transition Begins at Work: Leveraging Job Quality for a Resilient Energy Economy
(Research-centered)—Bergen 2
Chair:
Elisabeth Jacobs
Workrise @ The Urban Institute
Presenters:
Abhinav Banthiya
*,
Illinois Climate Jobs Institute
; and
Peter J. Fugiel
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Fossil Fuel Workers in Transition: Job Quality, Mobility, and Displacement
Roshan Krishnan
*,
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Riding the Solar-Coaster: Exploring the Experiences of Solar Workers in Illinois
Oluwasekemi Odumosu
*,
Urban Institute
; and
Teresa Kroeger
Workrise @ The Urban Institute
How Do High-Quality Jobs Benefit Workers, Businesses, and Communities?
5.15
Union Organizing, Busting, and Membership in Health Care: Evidence from a Mixed-Methods Partnership
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Rebecca Kolins Givan
Rutgers University
Presenters:
Nikita Raheja
*,
Columbia University
Niha Singh
Notre Dame University
Suresh Naidu
Columbia University
; and
Aaron Sojourner
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Union Membership in Voluntary Settings: Evidence from U.S. Health Care
Suresh Naidu
*,
Adam Reich
McKenna Roberts
and
Easton Schindler
Columbia University
Niha Singh
Notre Dame University
; and
Patrick Youngblood
Columbia University
Democracy Denied at the Bedside: Union Avoidance in Minnesota’s Nursing Home Sector
Hannah Puelle
Adam Reich
* and
Suresh Naidu
Columbia University
Niha Singh
Notre Dame University
; and
Aaron Sojourner
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
The Union Conversation: How Workers Talk About Unionization in the Field
Discussants:
Erin L. Kelly
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Alan Benson
University of Minnesota
; and
John Kallas
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
5.20
Expanding Equity in Arbitration: Redefining Factors to Address Arbitrator Bias Rooted in Limited Life Experience
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 2
As Name, Image, and Likeness ("NIL") rights reshape the landscape of collegiate athletics, arbitrators are being tasked with evaluating complex disputes, often involving compensation, equity, and representation. Yet, many arbitrators operate within professional silos with limited exposure to diverse lived experiences. This session examines how the current NIL arbitration framework can unintentionally perpetuate bias when arbitrators lack dynamic life experiences. Through examining two of the twelve factors used to evaluate a third-party NIL deal's "Range of Compensation," this session offers perspectives and methodology on how to refine these factors to mitigate bias in NIL valuations.
Moderator:
Homer C. La Rue
Howard University School of Law & Board Chair, RCI, Inc.
Panelists:
Jordan Rose Bermudez
Howard University School of Law
Mark Pearce
Workers Rights Institute, Georgetown University
; and
Christopher Pham
Co-chair of the Sports & Entertainment Group at Fredrikson & Byron
5.25
LERA Construction Council Presents "The Plot to Subvert Labor Standards: Defending Davis-Bacon and State Prevailing Wage Laws from Corporate Attacks"
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 3
This panel will discuss the nearly 50-year corporate assault on construction industry labor standards, initiated by the Business Roundtable, and how the unionized construction industry and affiliates mobilized to defend against these attacks. Attendees will learn how the business community developed its attack to successfully repeal Prevailing Wage Laws (PWLs) in multiple states beginning in 1979. This led to a "research renaissance" into the industry impacts (e.g., apprenticeship and safety) and economics (e.g., construction workforce reliance on social safety net programs) of PWLs. The industry also developed modern communications strategies to promote the new research and rebut the opposition's claims.
Moderator:
Timothy Watkins
Fair Contracting Foundation of Minnesota
Panelists:
Mark Erlich
Harvard University
Frank Manzo
Illinois Economic Policy Institute
; and
Todd Stenhouse
Stenhouse Strategies Inc.
5.30
LERA/AILR Best Papers
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Moderator:
David Lewin
University of California Los Angeles
Presenters:
John A. Logan
*,
San Francisco State University
Why "Sectoral Bargaining" Won't Save the Labor Movement
Chien-Hao Chen
*,
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
From Shareholder Value to Stakeholder Governance: Government Mediation in the Diffusion of Share Buybacks
Abraham Walker
*,
University of North Carolina
The Tesla-IF Metall Conflict as a Stress Test for Coordinated Market Economies
Hoyeon Lee
*,
The New School for Social Research
The Paradox of Apparent Inequality Mitigation under Rapid Automation: Labor Market Stratification and Institutional Adjustment in South Korea (2010–2025)
5.35
Rising to the Challenge of Small Business Compliance with Labor Laws in (I/BIPOC) Communities
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Labor enforcement across the country has been largely separated from small business support. The Minneapolis Small Business Labor Law Pilot Project was launched in 2022 to design and evaluate scalable methods for building capacity among small businesses-especially those owned by people who have been historically marginalized-such that they comply with local employment standards and improve job quality for workers employed at these firms. This session brings together a panel of stakeholders in the Minneapolis Small Business project, including representatives from community organizations, local government, and participating bookkeepers and businesses, to discuss the project's impact, its challenges, and goals moving forward.
Moderator:
Zuhur Ahmed
Rutgers University
Presenter:
Hana R. Shepherd
*,
Rutgers University
Increasing Labor Standards Compliance Among Under-resourced Small Businesses: The Minneapolis Project
Panelists:
Dan Fehrenkamp
Neighborhood Development Center
Nicolette Gullickson
Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights
Bookkeeper from Minneapolis
and
Business Owner from Minneapolis
Minneapolis Small Business Pilot Project
5.40
Power, Institutions, and Pathways at Work
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Rosemary Batt
Cornell University
Presenters:
Andrew Weaver
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Justin Vinton
*,
Rutgers University
Manufacturing Technicians and Innovation
Xinming Deng
*,
Michigan State University
Displacement Policy, Power Resource, and Labor-Management Cooperation: New Garment Entrepreneurs under Chinese Industrial Policy
Lorenzo Frangi
University of Québec at Montréal
; and
Daniela Gatti
*,
University of Toronto
Student Union Leadership in Constructing Career Trajectories: Early Experience and Career Outcomes in Canada
William Foley
*,
Rutgers University
; and
Dylan Michael Hatch
Cornell University
They Weren't Living up to Their Values: The Ideational Effect of Cooperative Ownership and Progressive Branding on Employment
9 - 10:15 am
LERA National Chapter Advisory Council Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
William Canak
Middle Tennessee State University (ret.)
; and
Bonnie Castrey
Dispute Resolution Services
Members:
Meeta Bass
Bass Dispute Resolution Services LLC
Mickey Brock
Houston LERA, Arbitrator
Matthew Capece
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Robert Chiaravalli
Strategic Labor & Human Resources, LLC
Kimberly Eyssen
32BJ SEIU
Janet Gillman
Oregon Employment Relations Board
Beverly Harrison
Arbitrator/Mediator
Philip A. LaPorte
Georgia State University (ret.)
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
Kevin Stokes
DC Office of Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Jeffrey S. Wheeler
Georgetown University
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
10:30 - 11:45 am
Concurrent Sessions
6.05
2026 LERA Annual Research Volume: Labor in Global Supply Chains (Lightning Round)
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chairs:
Mark Anner
and
Xiangmin (Helen) Liu
Rutgers University
; and
Chunyun Li
London School of Economics and Political Sciences
Presenters:
Claire Sleigh
*,
United Auto Workers
Strikes and Power in Unlikely Places: Migrant Garment Workers in Jordan
Mahreen Khan
*,
University of Oxford
More Voice, More Violations? Worker Representation and Compliance Detection in Global Supply Chains
Andrew Wilson
*,
Tobias Schulze-Cleven
and
Xiangmin (Helen) Liu
Rutgers University
Japan in Global Semiconductor Supply Chains: Notes on Institutions, Technology, and Labor
Sanchita Saxena
*,
University of California, Berkeley
Collaboration or Continued Compliance? The Reality of Partnerships between Global Brands and their Suppliers in the Apparel Industry and the Impact on Labor
Yichen Liu
*,
University of Toronto
; and
Sarosh C. Kuruvilla
Cornell University
Buyer Leverage, Supplier Compliance and Labor Standards in Global Supply Chains
6.10
The Climate-Labor Movement: Lessons Learned and the Promise of an Equitable and Diverse Clean Energy Economy
(Research-centered)—Bergen 2
Chairs:
Richard A. Benton
Climate Jobs Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Lara Skinner
Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University
Presenters:
Virginia Parks
University of California Irvine
; and
Josh Sonnenfeld
*,
University of California Berkeley
Organizing a Worker- and Community-centered Transition: The Contra Costa Refinery Transition Partnership as Case Study
Hunter Moskowitz
*,
Cornell
; and
J. Mijin Cha
University of California Santa Cruz
Stronger Together: The Role of Sectoral Bargaining in Advancing a Just Transition for Autoworkers
Patrick Crowley
*,
Rhode Island AFL-CIO
Industrial Environmental Policy: Markets, Labor, and The Rhode Island Experiment
6.15
Partnership and Contestation in Transnational Tripartism: The International Labor Organization and European Social Dialogue
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 3
Social dialogue is central to European Union governance, including bipartite and tripartite process. Tripartism is foundational to the International Labour Organisation. Today, these institutions are under challenge. As the Cold War ended, the balance of power shifted. At the ILO, a crisis ensued in 2012 when the international employer group disputed an expert body's interpretation of the right to strike as inherent to Convention 87 on Freedom of Association. That legal issue is before the International Court of Justice. Contestation also exists at the ILO over small-scale project work around LGBTQ+ rights and equality, another manifestation of the growing global anti-rights backlash. We will explore these conflicts.
Moderator:
Wilma B. Liebman
Former Chair NLRB and New York University Law School
Panelists:
James Brudney
Fordham University
Jeffrey D. Boyd
American Guild of Musical Artists
; and
Carolyn K. Fisher
CHRO Association
6.20
A History of Labor Management Partnering
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 2
Labor management partnering can lead to excellent results for both sides of the labor-management divide. But success is often impeded by such factors as turnover, financial stress or others.
This presentation takes the longview, looking back at management-union relations, primarily in the US, for the last century to offer encouragement to modern practitioners.
Moderator:
Rudy Gonzalez
San Francisco Building Trades Council
Panelists:
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
Discussant:
Nelson Lichtenstein
University of California Santa Barbara
6.25
Utilizing All of the Available Talent: New Strategies for More Representative Arbitration
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
It's no secret that today's pool of available arbitrators often does not reflect the modern workforce. In times where programs promoting "diversity" and "inclusion" are carefully scrutinized, what can be done to increase choice and opportunities for those seeking arbitrators that are more representative of their workers? This panel from the Ray Corollary Initiative, Inc. (RCI) will discuss three voluntary strategies for those interested in expanding selection opportunities in arbitration to utilize all of the available talent.
Moderator:
Sarah Miller Espinosa
SME Dispute Resolution, LLC
Panelists:
David Larson
Mitchell-Hamline School of Law, RCI, Inc.
J. Christopher Heagarty
Ray Corollary Initiative, Inc.
; and
Homer C. La Rue
Howard University School of Law & Board Chair, RCI, Inc.
6.30
LERA Higher Education Council Presents "Worker Voice in Minnesota's Higher Education Sector"
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 4
Higher education remains a sector under pressure, with the recent attacks by the Trump administration only turning up the volume. It is hard to find anybody disagreeing with the assessment that inherited institutions and practices are in crisis. This panel focuses on the current state of worker voice in Minnesota's higher education sector, exploring collective labor efforts to deal with contemporary pressures in the state hosting this year's LERA conference. With participants from organizations representing unique groups of workers at different institutions in the state, the panel seeks to provide an engaging and comprehensive overview.
Moderator:
William P. Jones
University of Minnesota
Panelists:
Jenna Chernega
Inter-Faculty Organization
Kevin Lindstrom
Minnesota State College Faculty
; and
Tyler Treptow-Bowman
Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty
Discussant:
Tobias Schulze-Cleven
Rutgers University
6.35
Reproductive Justice as Labor Rights
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Reproductive justice is the cornerstone of women's full participation in the workforce and the economy. The tools that support reproductive justice include comprehensive healthcare, such as contraceptive and abortion access, prenatal care, and menopausal care; workplace accommodations that support women's health needs and family caregiving needs; and material wellbeing that afford the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. Each of these are core tenets of labor organizing and collective bargaining, leading to an impactful alliance between reproductive justice and labor movements. This panel will share perspectives and insights from different stakeholders and discuss common ground for supporting movements and for achieving shared goals.
Moderator:
Gloria Perez
Minnesota Women's Foundation
Presenters:
Serwaa Omowale
*,
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Employment as a Social Determinant: Work-Related Stress, Economic Inequality, and Maternal Health in Black Women
Kate Bahn
*,
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Cost of Reproductive Rights Restrictions to Workers, Employers, and the Economy
Panelists:
Randie Pearson
United Steelworkers
6.40
How Inequality Enters and Accumulates in Labor Markets
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Nikita Aggarwal
University of Maryland
Presenters:
Joseph Marchand
* and
Sebastian Fossati
University of Alberta
Women on the Margins: Gendered Effects of Large Minimum Wage Changes in Canada
Wen-Jui Han
*,
New York University
; and
Pei-Chiang Lee
University of Texas at Austin
A Life Course Lens of Job Quality and Workers' Well-being
Irene Wen-fen Yang
*,
National Chung Cheng University
; and
Su-Chin Sung
National Central University
You Just Don't Understand: The Role of Generational Differences in Perceptions of Inappropriate Interviewer Behavior
6.45
LERA Best Posters II: Equity at Work--Identity, Voice, and Organizational Practice
(Research-centered)—Denmark Commons Foyer
Chair:
Hye Jin Rho
Michigan State University
Presenters:
Kayleigh Edith Truman
*,
Rutgers University
Three Identities in a Trench Coat: a Reflexive Thematic Analysis of how Neurodivergent Entertainment Workers Navigate the Gig Economy
Helen LaVan
*,
DePaul University
Commitment or Retreat? A Comparative Study of DEI Practices Across U.S. Corporations
Stephanie Fortado
*,
Emily E. LB. Twarog
and
Kay Emmert
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sexual Harassment: What It Is and How to Stop It, A Pedagogical Case Study
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA Membership Committee Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
David Lewin
University of California Los Angeles
; and
Nereyda Rivera
Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Members:
Jack Fiorito
Florida State University
Javier Ramirez
Cornell University, ILR School
; and
Emily Smith
LERA
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA Automobile and Aerospace (Manufacturing) Council Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend. This council meeting will explore the impact of the United States--Mexico--Canada Agreement, specifically how the agreement has affected workers, labor standards, and employment conditions in the automobile and aerospace manufacturing industries across North America.
Moderator:
Tazewell Victor Hurst III
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
12 - 1:30 pm
Climate Jobs Birds of a Feather Luncheon, Hosted by Illinois Climate Jobs Institute
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
As the clean energy transition accelerates, building strong, cross-sector networks is essential to advancing high-quality jobs, effective policy, and equitable outcomes for workers and communities. This networking luncheon offers a valuable opportunity to connect with researchers, practitioners, labor leaders, and policymakers, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships at the forefront of climate jobs and the evolving world of work. If you are interested in issues at the intersection of Climate and Jobs, please plan to attend, all are welcome.
Moderator:
Richard A. Benton
Climate Jobs Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
12 - 1:30 pm
LERA Executive Board Meeting (by Invitation)
—Norway 1 & 2
Moderator:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
1:45 - 2:45 pm
Plenary: Democracy and Workers' Rights in America: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
The second Trump administration has presented enormous challenges for both labor and democracy in the United States, including unprecedented attacks on federal workers' jobs and their unions, and efforts to dismantle the government's capacity to protect workers' rights. Much has been written about the long-term erosion of American democracy; however, less attention has focused on the specific impacts of institutional changes in workplace and labor market governance. This session examines these issues in terms of both historical trends and contemporary crises, at national and state levels, from a panel of academic researchers, policy experts, and labor movement practitioners.
Moderator:
Chris Rhomberg
Fordham University
Panelists:
Mike Podhorzer
AFL-CIO
Laura Bucci
St. Joseph's University
Lucas A. Franco
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
Gwynne A. Wilcox
Former National Labor Relations Board Member
; and
Keith Ellison
Minnesota Attorney General
3 - 4:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
7.05
Labor in Global Supply Chains I: Worker Experiences with Private Regulations
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Mark Anner
Rutgers University
Presenters:
Wogene Mena
*,
Vienna University of Economics and Business
The Double-Edged Sword of Labor Agency: Navigating Workers' Resilience, Reworking, and Resistance in Ethiopia's Garment Industries
Matthew Fischer-Daly
*,
Rutgers University
Chains of Labor Control: The Case of Palm Oil Global Supply Chains in Honduras
Mevan Jayasinghe
*,
Michigan State University
Suppliers' Voluntary Initiatives to Elevate Job Quality in Artisanal Global Supply Chains
Discussant:
Sarosh C. Kuruvilla
Cornell University
7.10
Labor and the Transition to Electric Vehicles: A Global Perspective on Work and the Transformation of the Automotive Industry
(Research-centered)—Bergen 2
Chair:
Harry C. Katz
Cornell University
Presenters:
Evren M. Dincer
*,
Abdullah Gul University, Turkey
Turkey at the EV Crossroads: The Low-End ICE Trap and the Looming Deindustrialization Threat
Seong-Jae Cho
Korea Labor Institute
; and
Dongwoo Park
*,
Columbia University
Reinforcing the Status Quo or Sparking a New Industrial Order? The BEV Transition and Labor Market Dualism in Korea
Evren M. Dincer
Abdullah Gul University, Turkey
Ian Greer
*,
Cornell University
; and
Tobias Zimmerman
Free University Berlin
The United States: Contradictions of an Unjust Transition
7.15
When the Dance Becomes a Mosh Pit: The Changing Dynamics of Collective Bargaining
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 3
Across industries, the rhythm of collective bargaining is shifting. Tentative agreements are being rejected, strike votes are taken earlier, and bargaining priorities are increasingly difficult to identify. Economic volatility, workforce activism, and administrative delays have injected new uncertainty into the process, challenging even seasoned negotiators. This session brings together labor, management, and neutral perspectives to explore whether the traditional 'dance' of bargaining has evolved into something more turbulent-and how practitioners can adapt their preparation, strategy, and communication to stay effective.
Moderator:
Javier Ramirez
Cornell University, ILR School
Panelists:
Christy Yoshitomi
American Water
Rena Wong
UFCW
; and
Michael (Mick) J. Waldspurger
Squires Waldspurger & Mace, P.A.
7.20
LERA Higher Education Council Presents "New Perspectives on Collective Bargaining for Graduate Student Employees"
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
This symposium combines research presentations and practitioner observations on collective bargaining for graduate student employees. Research presentations will explore the protections international students receive as well as student views on the anticipated and observed effects of bargaining on learning conditions. Following the presentations higher education practitioners will discuss the evolution of bargaining at their institutions.
Moderator:
Matthew T. Bodie
University of Minnesota, School of Law
Presenters:
William A. Herbert
*,
Hunter College
; and
Joseph van der Naald
City University of New York
Collective Bargaining Protections and Benefits for International Students
Adrienne E. Eaton
*,
Seonghoon Hong
and
Paula Voos
Rutgers University
Testing NLRB Arguments Against Graduate Student Employee Unions: Results of Before/After Surveys
Panelists:
Thomas H. Riley, Jr.
Executive Director of Labor and Special Counsel for the University of Illinois System
; and
Andrew Cantrell
Field Services Director, Illinois Federation of Teachers
7.25
The NLRB: Scenarios for the Future
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
As the Supreme Court considers a case that may extinguish the very concept of an independent agency, the National Labor Relations Board faces an uncertain future, one already made precarious by the Court's recent decision in Loper Bright. This session will provide an update on the status of the law concerning agency independence and will discuss various proposals at both the federal and state levels for reform or even replacement of the NLRB's adjudicative functions.
Moderator:
Gina M Roccanova
Roccanova ADR
Panelists:
Dominique Windberg
Jackson Lewis, PC
; and
Michaela Posner
Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld
7.30
From Labels to Understanding: Communication Strategies for Bridging Divides
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 4
This session is designed to help practitioners develop a deeper awareness of triggering labels and their impact on communication and conflict resolution. These labels can subconsciously reveal a practitioner's true feelings or, conversely, obscure the genuine emotions of those involved in the conflict. Recognizing and understanding these dynamics is essential for fostering meaningful dialogue and achieving productive resolutions.
Practitioners must learn to navigate and avoid triggering labels. The words we choose and the manner in which we engage with others can either facilitate understanding or create additional barriers. The way we communicate directly affects trust, collaboration, and the overall effectiveness of conflict resolution strategies.
By refining their language and approach, practitioners can create a more supportive and respectful environment where all parties feel heard, valued, and understood. Mastering these skills leads to more constructive conversations and sustainable solutions in resolving conflicts.
Moderators:
Danny Lee Dickerson
Faithworks Consulting
; and
Karen Crump-Wilson
7.35
Worker Voice and Work Outcomes in the Age of AI
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Chair:
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Presenters:
Joy Ming
*,
University at Buffalo
; and
Ariel C. Avgar
Cornell University
Technological Change in Home Care: Worker Voice in the Age of AI
Cherise Regier
*,
University of Oxford
Ryan Lamare
London School of Economics
; and
Faraz Shahidi
Institute for Work and Health
Employee Voice and Workplace Wellbeing in the Age of AI: Cross-National Empirical Evidence
Jenna E. Myers
*,
University of Toronto
Partnership on AI and Quality of Work (PAIQ): Early Insights from Cross-sector Workplace Case Studies
Discussants:
Dionne Pohler
Cornell University
; and
Peter Norlander
Loyola University of Chicago
3 - 4:15 pm
Deans, Chairs, and Directors Council Meeting (DCDC)
—Oslo
This is a meeting of the Deans, Chairs, and Directors Council, and is open to representatives of university programs. To attend, please RSVP to this event when you register for the conference.
Chair:
Marc Weinstein
Florida International University
Panelists:
Sean E. Rogers
University of Rhode Island
Mark Anner
Rutgers University
Alexander J.S. Colvin
Cornell University
Elaine Farndale
Pennsylvania State University
Erin L. Kelly
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jason Huang
Michigan State University
Elizabeth Faue
Wayne State University
Rafael Gomez
University of Toronto
; and
Simon Restubog
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
4:30 - 5:45 pm
Concurrent Sessions
8.05
Industrial Relations and the Challenges of Global Platform Work: Part II
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Duanyi Yang
Cornell University
Presenters:
Lindsey Cameron
*,
University of Pennsylvania
Scalable Subjugation: The Myth of Geographic Scalability in the Gig Economy and How Workers Reconstitute Platforms
Laura Lam
*,
University of Toronto
Voice Without Direction: Care Workers Navigating Advocacy and Voice in Flexible Work Settings
Ayaj Rana
*,
Cornell University
Restoring Reciprocity: A Relational Theory of Disintermediation in Triadic Platform Work
Andrew Wolf
*,
Cornell University
; and
Mohammad Amir Anwar
University of Edinburgh
The Social Reproduction of Racism in the Algorithms of Platform Work in the U.S. and South Africa
8.10
Author Meets Critics: Get on the Job and Organize by Jaz Brisack
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
This is an "Authors Meets Critics" session on Jaz Brisack's recent book, Get on the Job and Organize: Standing up for a Better Workplace and a Better World (Simon & Schuster, 2025). Brisack's book covers important topics and debates on union organizing in the United States. Drawing from their experience as co-founder of Starbucks Workers United and as a labor organizer on several other campaigns, Brisack emphasizes the importance of 'salting' and other grassroots organizing approaches to help win campaigns at employers previously considered impervious to unionization. The session features Brisack and three expert discussants from the fields of industrial relations and labor history who will comment on the book's main arguments within the context of broader debates on union revitalization.
Moderator:
John Kallas
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Discussants:
Jaz Brisack
Organizing Director of the Inside Organizer School and co-founder of Starbucks Workers United
Janice Fine
Rutgers University
Maite Tapia
Michigan State University
; and
Augustus Wood
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
8.15
Labor-Management Partnership and Worker Engagement for Use of AI and Technology at Kaiser Permanente
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 3
In 2025, the Alliance of Health Care Unions and Kaiser Permanente (KP) used interest-based negotiations to reach a new national agreement covering over 62,000 employees. The Alliance and KP negotiated ground-breaking language providing for worker engagement in the development, rollout, training and evaluation of AI and new technologies. In addition to worker protections the language emphasizes that worker voice is essential to every phase of the AI lifecycle from problem identification and solution design to implementation and assessment. Labor, management and academic panelists will share key contract provisions, lessons from negotiations, and challenges, opportunities and progress on implementing new language.
Moderator:
Yael Foa
Alliance of Health Care Unions
Panelists:
Debra Sung
United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP)
; and
Jonathan K. Donehower
Kaiser Permanente
Discussant:
Arrow Minster
San Francisco State University
8.20
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Worker Welfare: Examples from Minnesota
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 2
This session explores how existing labor and workforce systems can create hidden frictions that limit worker welfare and equity. Drawing from research on cosmetology licensing, unionized transit systems, labor standards enforcement, and clean energy workforce development, panelists examine how institutional design and governance shape who benefits from current labor models and laws. Collectively, the papers highlight opportunities for new, often co-created solutions that integrate worker perspectives and adapt legacy systems to align labor standards with inclusive economic mobility.
Moderator:
Lucas A. Franco
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
Presenters:
Carol Wood
*,
University of Minnesota
Rethinking Pathways and Mobility in Salon Service Occupations
Nichola Lowe
* and
Sylvie Guezeon
University of Minnesota
Co-Designing Workforce Systems: Lessons from Transit Labor Relations
Aaron Rosenthal
*,
North Star Policy Action
A Roadmap to Compliance: Enforcing Labor Standards in Minneapolis Construction
Kevin Pranis
*,
LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota
Evolving Joint-Labor Management for the Clean Energy Transition
8.25
Where Workers Go: Migration, Tightness, and Job Transitions
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
Chair:
Peter Norlander
Loyola University of Chicago
Presenters:
Aghairza Mammadov
*,
University of South Florida
The Effect of Remote Job Opportunities on Internal Migration
Brad Hershbein
*,
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Katherine Lim
USDA
Mike Zabek
and
Douglas Webber
Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Local Labor Market Tightness and Job Quality: Evidence from Job Changers
Sungbin Park
*,
George Mason University
Unemployment Benefits, Medicaid Notch, and Job Finding
Thomas Durfee
*,
University of Minnesota
Job Vacancies with Schedule Flexibility and the Jobseeker's Search - A Model of Schedule Benefit Slack
8.30
Taking the Study off the Shelf: Research and Action for Diversity in the Building Trades
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 4
In 2016, the Project For Middle Class Renewal at the School of Labor and Employment Relations, at the University of Illinois partnered with the East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades to conduct a research study "Advancing Construction Industry Diversity: A Pilot Study of the East Central Illinois Building Trades Council." Our panel will feature a tripartite conversation with university faculty, building trades leaders, and a contractor to review the last decade of successes and challenges in implementing the study recommendations, with an emphasis on a new Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program funded by the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
Moderator:
Stephanie Fortado
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Panelists:
Robert Bruno
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kevin Sage
East Central Illinois Building Trades
Justin McMullen
Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program
; and
Industry Contractor Invited
Construction Industry Professional
8.35
From Evidence to Action: Connecting Research, Policy and Organizing on AI and Work
(Other)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how work is organized, managed, and experienced. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to share learnings and insights from different sectors where AI's impacts are being felt by workers. The session will address the following questions: What are the common threads in how AI is impacting workers across different parts of the economy? What are the most pressing research questions vis-à-vis policy and organizing to advance worker interests as part of AI governance? What kinds of research methods and approaches are most fruitful for addressing such issues?
Moderators:
Christine Riordan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Hye Jin Rho
Michigan State University
Discussants:
Sanjay Joseph Pinto
University of Illinois Chicago
Alexandra Mateescu
Data & Society Research Institute
; and
Zoe West
Cornell University
8.40
Working Through Differences: Methods to Bridge the Divide (Hosted by ALRA)
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
This panel will consider strategies and methods for overcoming obstacles in fraught situations. Panelists will discuss underlying causes behind polarized viewpoints, and ways to help breakdown barriers to moving forward. These methods can be applied to mediations, negotiations, and projects of all kinds. ***Sponsored by the Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA).
Moderator:
Johnny Villarreal
Commissioner of Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services
Panelists:
Katie Pratt
Minnesota Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution
Shannon Watson
Majority in the Middle
; and
Lisa W. Timmons
Arbitrator & Mediator, and Executive Director, Mediation Tribunal Association
4:30 - 5:45 pm
Higher Education Council Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend. Council members seek to use this meeting to make plans for our next steps. Please also consider attending any of the three substantive panels sponsored by the council at this year's conference.
Moderators:
Tobias Schulze-Cleven
and
Daniel J. Julius
Rutgers University
Saturday
Conference Activities • 5/30/2026
7:45 - 8:45 am
LERA Presidents' Breakfast (by Invitation)
Moderator:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
9 - 10:15 am
Concurrent Sessions
9.05
What Were They Thinking? Negotiators Share Controversial New Contract Language Proposals and How It Worked Out
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 1
How do negotiators introduce new language issues, and how do they navigate finding common ground? Traditionally only those at the bargaining table see how proposals are introduced and how they evolve, and even for those at the table the other side's thinking might be a mystery. In this session sponsored by the North Star LERA chapter, experienced labor and management negotiators will share specific examples of language proposals, reveal what each side was thinking, and discuss how differences were navigated. Come gain insights into the bargaining process and learn tips for having productive negotiations that result in agreements.
Moderator:
Liz Brenner
Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services and President of North Star LERA Chapter
Panelists:
Holland Atkinson
Hennepin County
; and
Jolene Kjelshus
AFSCME Council 65
9.10
How Minneapolis Became a Mecca for Worker Justice Organizing: The View from Minneapolis Worker Rights Organizations and Results from a National Survey of Worker Centers
(Research-centered)—Bergen 2
This session will begin with a presentation by the Workplace Justice Lab on their national survey of worker rights organizations, discussing the major challenges these organizations are currently facing, how they are working to overcome them, and how they are using their limited resources to best support workers in this unprecedented moment. Following this research presentation, a panel will bring together Minneapolis worker rights organizations including CTUL, ISAIAH, and the Awood Center to discuss their organizing models for raising standards in their sectors and how they are tackling the challenges of the political moment.
Moderator:
Andrew Wolf
Cornell University
Presenter:
Jake Barnes
*,
Rutgers University
Meeting the Moment: Challenges and Opportunities for Worker Centers in Today's Political Climate
Panelists:
Deqa Essa
The Awood Center
Lydia Boerboom
ISAIAH
; and
Merle Payne
Centro De Trabajadores Unidos En La Lucha (CTUL)
9.15
New Frontiers in Computational Methods for Employment and Labor Research
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Now in its third year at LERA, this workshop introduces participants to latest development of computational social science methods and their growing relevance for industrial and employment relations research. Panelists will showcase tools such as machine learning-assisted text analysis, agent-based modeling, network analysis, and digital trace data, illustrating applications to inequality, labor markets, workplace dynamics, and social movements. The session concludes with a facilitated roundtable discussion that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing scholars to share projects, identify shared interests, and explore new research partnerships.
Moderator:
Jordan Cowie
McGill University
Presenters:
Peter Norlander
*,
Loyola University of Chicago
Enhancing Skill Extraction: JAAT Applications and LLM-as-Judge Techniques
Michael David Maffie
*,
Cornell University
Innovative Research Design to Study Work and Employment Relations
Tingting Zhang
*,
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Are We Collecting and Analyzing Too Much Data?
Shannon Potter
*,
Laval University
Benjamin Arold
University of Cambridge
Elliot Ash
ETH Zurich
; and
Suresh Naidu
Columbia University
Organizational Drivers of Union Impact in Canada
9.20
Conducting Fair, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Union Elections: Lessons and Best Practices
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 2
Union elections are essential to democratic governance, but can be resource-intensive and vulnerable to procedural disputes if not managed carefully. This session will provide practical guidance on conducting fair, efficient, and cost-effective officer elections, contract ratifications, and card check processes. Panelists will explore key challenges in planning and executing elections, and share best practices for avoiding pitfalls, enhancing transparency, and fostering member trust. The session will also include a brief demonstration of an online election process to illustrate how technology can improve efficiency and participation while maintaining neutrality and integrity. Participants will gain practical insights on how proactive planning, clear communication, and proper election administration protocols can enhance outcomes, minimize disputes, and ensure compliance.
Moderator:
Kenneth Egger
American Arbitration Association
Panelists:
Hiroyuki Kawahara
American Arbitration Association
Jennifer Hadsall
National Labor Relations Board, Region 18
; and
Justin D. Cummins
Managing Partner, Cummins & Cummins, LLP
9.25
So, You're Thinking About Maybe Becoming a Neutral (Arbitrator, Mediator, Investigator, etc.)?
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
The chasm between being an advocate (or normal person?) on Friday and being acceptable to parties as a neutral on the following Monday can be deep and wide and one should plan carefully BEFORE giving up one's day job! This presentation will explore opportunities/options for those seeking to up-skill and build a neutral skill set/resume while simultaneously applying and practicing those skills to improve their performance in their current position of HR, ER, LR, Union Rep/member, etc. The presenters will share experiences, strategies and resources for "getting there from here!" so attendees (both non-attorneys and attorneys alike) can prepare to be as acceptable to as many parties as possible! Additionally, this presentation will include the opportunity of the Ray Corollary Initiative's mission to increase the utilization of neutrals with wide ranging work and life experiences.
Moderator:
J. Christopher Heagarty
Ray Corollary Initiative, Inc.
Panelists:
Bob Oberstein
Arbitrator, Mediator, Investigator and Educator
; and
Homer C. La Rue
Howard University School of Law & Board Chair, RCI, Inc.
9.30
State Attempts to Regulate Private Sector Labor Relations to Fill the NLRB "Gap" (Hosted by ALRA)
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 4
2025 was a challenging year for the National Labor Relations Board. In January 2025, the Board lost its quorum, and could not decide cases. In October 2025, the government shutdown for over a month. Several states considered or passed laws to address the Board's lack of quorum to decide cases. The NLRB publicly opposed these actions, and sued New York state to protect the agency's exclusive jurisdiction over unfair labor practices in the private sector under the National Labor Relations Act. Panelists will discuss what this means to the labor community. ***Sponsored by the Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA).
Moderator:
Fred Jacob
NLRB Solicitor, and George Washington University Law School
Panelists:
Marvin Kaplan
Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mark Pearce
Workers Rights Institute, Georgetown University
; and
Alvin Antonio Velazquez
Indiana University; School of Law
9.35
Reasonable Accommodations: When, Where, What, and How To
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Reasonable accommodations are easy, right? Workers need to just ask and management or HR give a yes or no. If only it were that simple. This workshop will focus on developing a working knowledge of the reasons and bases for granting reasonable accommodations; different mechanisms that exist for processing requests; the stakeholders involved in the interactive process and their roles; how to be creative in reaching workable solutions; and how enforcement agencies investigate reasonable accommodations claims amid policy shifts. Participants will also engage in group role play to practice skills and share results and strategies.
Moderator:
Rita Turpin Porterfield
City of Pittsburgh
9.40
Technology, Governance, and the Changing Nature of Work
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Kim Fernandes
Brown University
Presenters:
Nancy Nzom
*,
Regent University, Virginia
Regulating the Algorithm: Rethinking Labour Rights and Collective Bargaining in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Tashlin Lakhani
*,
Cornell University
Commitment or Control? Ownership, Employee Governance, and Performance in the Hotel Industry
Luca Vendraminielli
Devesh Narayanan
and
Arvind Karunakaran
*,
Stanford University
People Talk Back, Products Don't: How and When Using AI to Optimize Work Practices Fail
Xinyu Han
*,
University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Tianyun Zhu
Jinan University
; and
Yichuan Zhang
Assembly Lines, Fractured Lives: Industrial Robots and Domestic Fallout
9 - 10:15 am
LERA 28th Annual PhD Student Consortium
—Norway 1, 2, 3
Moderators:
Alexander Busch
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Stefan Ivanovski
Cornell University
Jianxuan Lei
University of Minnesota
; and
Sumati Thusoo
Rutgers University
9 - 10:15 am
LERA Labor Studies and Union Research Council Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderators:
Robert Bruno
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Candace Archer
AFL-CIO
9 - 10:15 am
LERA Public Sector Council Meeting
—Minneapolis
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Chairs:
Janet Gillman
Oregon Employment Relations Board
; and
Patrice M. Mareschal
Rutgers University
9 - 10:15 am
LERA Health Care Council Meeting
—Copenhagen
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderators:
Ariel C. Avgar
Cornell University
; and
Antonio J. Saguibo
Quantum Health
10:30 - 11:45 am
Concurrent Sessions
10.05
Labor in Global Supply Chains II: The Implications of Due Diligence Legislations and Debates for Labor in Global Supply Chains
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Matthew Fischer-Daly
Rutgers University
Presenters:
Martin Curley
Katalyst Initiative
Anne Lally
*,
University of Notre Dame
; and
Henrik Lindholm
Ethical Trading Initiative-Sweden
'Stakeholder Consultation' and Variations in Industry Context: Implications for Human Rights Due Diligence Regulatory Design
Jeffrey S. Wheeler
*,
Georgetown University
Labor Rights and Worker Voice: Opportunities in Due Diligence Standards and Global Compliance
Chunyun Li
*,
London School of Economics and Political Sciences
; and
Mingwei Liu
Rutgers University
Global Value Chain Structure and Worker Outcomes: The Role of Lead Firm Origin and Chain Tiers?
Discussant:
Greg Distelhorst
University of Toronto
10.10
Examining the Long History of Employer Opposition to Unions and Worker Agency in the United States
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 2
The panel brings together a distinguished group of historians and labor relations experts to consider "American employer exceptionalism" - U.S. employers' long, powerful, often violent, and exceptional (relative to Europe and Japan) resistance to unionism and collective worker agency. The collapse of union density, decades of union busting, and serial labor law reform failures have decimated American labor, despite 15 years of innovative labor militancy and labor unions' sharply increased popularity. This panel explores historical and contemporary perspectives on the roots, dynamics, and consequences of American employers' workplace authoritarianism, and what a national dialogue about reforming it might look like.
Moderator:
Nelson Lichtenstein
University of California Santa Barbara
Panelists:
Chad Pearson
University of North Texas
Robert Bruno
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
David Lewin
University of California Los Angeles
; and
Michael Hillard
University of Southern Maine
10.15
NorCal LERA Presents "All in the Family: Celebrating California Public Sector Collective Bargaining with Practical Advice for Labor Management Committees"
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 3
After all we’ve been through together - strikes, strife, imposed contracts, even unreasonableness - what is our path forward in finding joy? How can we foster closer relationships between employers and unions, and improve our communication in the present? Today, you will find messages of hope and inspiration from California for the future of collective bargaining throughout our nation. You will hear from different perspectives about common nuances throughout our shared history, and the value we all bring to the table. We will provide practical advice on Labor Management Committees. Put these concepts into action upon your return home for improved collaboration in labor relations, even in tenuous times. This session’s panelists include union and management points of view, along with tenured neutrals from PERB.
Moderator:
Lisa Li
County of Marin California
Panelists:
Jun Payoyo
California Public Employment Relations Board - State Mediation & Conciliation Service
Nereyda Rivera
Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Rudy Gonzalez
San Francisco Building Trades Council
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
; and
Hal Ruddick
Alliance of Health Care Unions
10.20
LERA Competitive Papers
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Moderator:
Yuanyuan Sun
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Presenters:
Daiquiri Steele
*,
The University of Alabama School of Law
Restraining Retaliation by Contract: Reimagining Retaliation Protections Through Collective Bargaining
Chichun Fang
*,
University of Michigan
How Reliable Is Self-Reported Employee Stock Ownership Plan Participation in Population Surveys? Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Alex Bell
Georgia State University
Joshua R. Boyd
* and
Sophie Calder-Wang
University of Pennsylvania
; and
Shusheng Zhong
Northwestern University
Estimating Prices of Job Amenities: Implementation and Practical Tools
Discussant:
Paul Osterman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
10.25
Building Sustainable Labor-Management Relationships Through Grievance Mediation
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
Grievance mediation is increasingly recognized as more than just a method of resolving disputes - it's a process that strengthens communication, trust, and long-term labor-management relationships. This session features experienced mediators and arbitrators who will share insights and success stories from their own practices, illustrating how early, facilitated problem-solving can reduce backlogs, restore relationships, and help unions and employers move from adversarial positions toward cooperative engagement. Attendees will gain practical ideas for incorporating grievance mediation into their own settings and for using the process to foster lasting collaboration in the workplace.
Moderator:
Frank Binda
American Arbitration Association
Panelists:
Lisa W. Timmons
Arbitrator & Mediator, and Executive Director, Mediation Tribunal Association
Brian Clauss
Arbitrator
; and
Mark C. Travis
Travis ADR Services, LLC
10.30
Strategy and Organizing in the Private Sector
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 4
Private sector union density is at its lowest in decades, yet the last few years have seen a steady growth in organizing, research, and strategizing specifically focused on the private sector. This panel will feature a mix of organizers and academics focused on strategy, research, and (the need for) organizing in the private sector to present and discuss recent campaigns, research, lessons learned, and viable paths forward for organizing in the private sector.
Moderator:
Gregory Lyon
Georgetown University
Panelists:
Jaz Brisack
Organizing Director of the Inside Organizer School and co-founder of Starbucks Workers United
David Weil
Brandeis University
Richard Bensinger
Former AFL-CIO Organizing Director and Consultant to Starbucks Workers United
; and
Jonathan Rosenblum
Arizona State University, Center for Work and Democracy
10.35
Democratizing Tripartite Regulation
(Public policy implementation)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
This symposium examines how democratizing state-based tripartite regulation can transform worker and industry organization and representation. Instead of appointed representatives, new laws in Massachusetts and California creating minimum standards boards regulating the rideshare industry, create worker and industry associations to fill these board seats. These organizations can then play ongoing roles in benefits, training, and grievance assistance, similar to European sectoral unions. Our expert panel will discuss how this model creates new paths for worker organization and representation in entire industries, and how it can operate within the confines of labor and antitrust law.
Moderator:
David Rolf
Founder and President Emeritus, SEIU 775
Panelists:
Cynthia Estlund
New York University Law School
Lenny Sanchez
Director of the IL Chapter, Independent Drivers Guild
; and
Andrew Greenblatt
Independent Drivers Guild
10.40
The State of Publicly Supported ADR (Hosted by ALRA)
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
This session features a candid discussion of publicly supported ADR in the U.S. at the federal, state, and local levels. What's working, where capacity is thin, and what alternative models are emerging? Join commissioners and leaders from the Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA) who will share their experiences navigating the shifting landscape of public-sector mediation and arbitration. The session highlights innovative programs, funding challenges, and opportunities for collaboration across jurisdictions.
Moderator:
Javier Ramirez
Cornell University, ILR School
Panelists:
Johnny Villarreal
Commissioner of Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services
10.45
LERA Best Posters III: Governing the Future of Work--Technology, ESG, and Social Responsibility
(Research-centered)—Denmark Commons Foyer
Chair:
Hye Jin Rho
Michigan State University
Presenters:
Taiwo Toyosola Ositimehin
*,
Syracuse University Whitman School
; and
Bolanle Abiodun Ositimehin
R5 Initiative
AI-Driven HR Analytics and Fair Talent Decisions: A Tripartite Governance Framework for the Future of Work
Sadia Shaukat
*,
University of Sargodha
; and
Naseer Abbas Khan
Huaiyin Institute of Technology
Eco-Innovation through Green Leadership: Evidence from the Public Sector
Chia-Hao Ho
and
Yen-Chu Lai
*,
National Sun Yat-sen University
; and
Chia-Chi Chang
National University of Kaohsiung
Conceptualizing Activist Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of Institutional Work: A Mixed-Method Social Network Research
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA 28th Annual PhD Student Consortium Cont'd
—Norway 1, 2, 3
Moderators:
Alexander Busch
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Stefan Ivanovski
Cornell University
Jianxuan Lei
University of Minnesota
; and
Sumati Thusoo
Rutgers University
10:30 - 11:45 am
LERA Chapter Administration Workshop Hosted by National Chapter Advisory Council
—Oslo
Presenters will review a portfolio of resources for identifying speakers and topics that have proven popular and effective for a range of constituents who attend workshops and conferences at local chapters. All local LERA Chapter administrators are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Chair:
Bonnie Castrey
Dispute Resolution Services
Panelists:
William Canak
Middle Tennessee State University (ret.)
Liz Brenner
Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services and President of North Star LERA Chapter
; and
Philip A. LaPorte
Georgia State University (ret.)
12 - 1:30 pm
LERA Annual Presidential Address and Luncheon
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
Moderator:
Beverly Harrison
Arbitrator/Mediator
Featured Speaker:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
1:45 - 3 pm
Concurrent Sessions
11.05
New Frontiers in Collective Bargaining: High-Tech, Digital Media, Starbucks Cafes, and Museums
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Tingting Zhang
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Presenters:
David Lewin
*,
University of California Los Angeles
Emerging Labor Relations in High-Tech Industries: A Conceptual, Empirical and Case Study Analysis
Howard Stanger
*,
Canisius University
Organizing and Collective Bargaining in Digital Media: The First Decade, 2015-2025
Zachary Schaller
*,
Prasiddha Shakya
Sal McCollum
and
Monica Opoku
Colorado State University
A Double-Shot of Organizing: How Starbucks Workers Have Inspired the Labor Movement
Daniel J. Julius
*,
Rutgers University
Collective Bargaining in the Museum Sector: A Status and Update
11.10
Update from the National Labor Relations Board (Hosted by ALRA)
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 2
Hear from Board Member David Prouty and Jennifer Hadsall, Regional Director of Region 18 of the National Labor Relations Board (covering the upper-Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and parts of Michigan) and the region's head of unfair labor practice litigation, Nichole Harville, as they discuss insights from the past year, as well as agency initiatives and developments in handling unfair labor practice cases and union election activity. ***Hosted by Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA).
Moderator:
Roxanne L Rothschild
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) / Association of Labor Relations Agencies (ALRA)
Panelists:
David M. Prouty
National Labor Relations Board
Jennifer Hadsall
National Labor Relations Board, Region 18
; and
Nichole Harville
NLRB Region 18, Head of Unfair Labor Practice Litigation
11.15
A Cross-Sector Focus on Worker Dignity in the Face of Technological Change
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Joy Ming
University at Buffalo
Presenters:
Lucy Pei
*,
University of Southern California
Imposed and Chosen Temporariness: Organizing Migrant Gig Workers in Latin America
Hunter Akridge
*,
Princeton University
Centering Worker Voice in the Future of Transit Work
Veronica Uribe-del-aguila
*,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Biomonitoring Computing: Tech Assembly Workers' Countermapping Practices in the Mexican Bajio
Kim Fernandes
*,
Brown University
Technology, Disability, and Labor
11.20
Labor Management Partnership between Kaiser Permanente and The Alliance of Health Care Unions in Historical Perspective
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 2
The Kaiser Permanente Labor Management Partnership (KP LMP) is now 28 years old, and it is the longest lasting, most comprehensive, and largest labor management partnership in the United States.
This panel will provide an opportunity to put the KP LMP in both historical and comparative perspective and evaluate how the KP LMP has evolved over the years.
Moderator:
Sandra Flores
Alliance of Health Care Unions
Panelists:
Hal Ruddick
Alliance of Health Care Unions
; and
Jim Pruitt
Kaiser Permanente
Discussant:
Adrienne E. Eaton
Rutgers University
11.25
Migration, Race, and Inequality
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
Chair:
Thomas Durfee
University of Minnesota
Presenters:
Xiting Zhang
*,
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
The Dynamics Between Hispanic Immigrant Workers and US-born Black/White Workers in the Construction Industry
Alan Benson
*,
University of Minnesota
; and
Louis Pierre Lepage
Stockholm Univeristy and SOFI
Learning to Discriminate on the Job
Nikita Aggarwal
*,
University of Maryland
Work, Precarity, and Integration: Community-Engaged Research with South Asian Immigrant Restaurant Workers
Ewa Protasiuk
*,
Temple University Department of Sociology
Immigrant Workers in the Labor Resurgence
11.30
Organizing in Professional and Emerging Sectors
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Chair:
Thomas J. Norman
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Presenters:
Lorenzo Frangi
University of Québec at Montréal
; and
Jordan Cowie
*,
McGill University
Union Officers Teleworking: Individual and Organizational Challenges and Opportunities
Joseph van der Naald
*,
City University of New York
Jacob Apkarian
York College, City University of New York
; and
William A. Herbert
Hunter College
Diverse Pathways to Organizing the Ivory Tower: The Case of Higher Education Faculty
Daniela Gatti
*,
University of Toronto
; and
Lorenzo Frangi
University of Québec at Montréal
From Lecture Halls to Union Halls: When Dissonance Produces Politicization in Identities
11.35
Legal Trends in Arbitration and Their Impact in Employment and Beyond
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Arbitration remains a central and evolving mechanism for resolving employment disputes, shaped by ongoing developments in state and federal case law. This program will provide a focused review of recent and influential judicial decisions affecting employment arbitration, including enforceability, scope of arbitration agreements, class and collective action waivers, and procedural fairness.
The panel will examine how these rulings are applied in practice and their implications for employers, employees, and counsel advising on workforce-related matters. The program will also highlight emerging trends and common pitfalls, offering practical guidance on risk assessment and preparing for arbitration in today’s legal landscape.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Identify key recent court decisions shaping employment arbitration
• Evaluate the enforceability of arbitration agreements under evolving legal standards
• Understand practical considerations in implementing and administering arbitration programs
• Advise clients on best practices for navigating employment arbitration
Moderator:
Joanne Saint Louis
JAMS
Panelists:
Paul Garrison
JAMS
; and
Mishell Parreno Taylor
Akerman LLP
1:45 - 3 pm
LERA International Council Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend.
Moderator:
Jeffrey S. Wheeler
Georgetown University
3:15 - 4:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions
12.05
Labor in Global Supply Chains III: Gender-based Violence and Living Wage Issues in Global Supply Chains
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Jeffrey S. Wheeler
Georgetown University
Presenters:
Sumati Thusoo
* and
Tobias Schulze-Cleven
Rutgers University
Intersectional Organizing Against Gender-Based Violence: The #JusticeForJeyasre Campaign and Critical Industrial Relations Theory
Mark Anner
*,
Rutgers University
The Elusive Quest for Living Wages in Global Supply Chains: Three Decades of Labor Campaigns, Conceptual Debates, and Unfulfilled Commitment
Sarosh C. Kuruvilla
*,
Cornell University
Lessons from The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-Based violence and Harassment
Discussant:
Chunyun Li
London School of Economics and Political Sciences
12.10
Arbitrator Training Development: Preparing the Next Generation of Neutrals
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
Arbitration, both labor and employment, is a central feature of the employment system in the United State. A large proportion of both union and nonunion workers have access to justice through this private dispute resolution process. This session will focus on the training and development of arbitrators in the context of a shifting workplace landscape and the emergence of transformative technologies, such as AI. What are the necessary tools and skills that tomorrow's arbitrators will need in order to serve in this critical dispute resolution role? This session will tackle this question from both academic and practitioner perspectives.
Moderator:
Hilary Mofsowitz
National Academy of Arbitrators International Studies Group
Panelists:
Homer C. La Rue
Howard University School of Law & Board Chair, RCI, Inc.
Alexander J.S. Colvin
Cornell University
Sarah Miller Espinosa
SME Dispute Resolution, LLC
; and
John W. Coverdale
Center for Workplace Solutions
12.15
The Role of Union and Labor-Management Relations in Promoting American Democracy
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 3
Scholars have argued that during the second Trump Administration that democracy's guardrails are battered and that democratic institutions are at risk. This session centers the labor movement and the labor-management infrastructure established by the NLRA and its many state-wide public variants as the critical institution to preserving American democracy.
Moderator:
Robert Bruno
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Panelists:
Fred Jacob
NLRB Solicitor, and George Washington University Law School
William P. Jones
University of Minnesota
Augustus Wood
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Amy Moor Gaylord
Akerman LLP
12.20
Political Windows and New Institutional Pathways for Worker Rights
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Chair:
Lisa Li
County of Marin California
Presenters:
Adam (Chuling) Huang
*,
Renmin University of China
Seeing like the Managers: Explaining the Divergent Strike Outcomes in Agriculture
Hollen Tillman
*,
University of Pittsburgh
Kess Ballentine
Wayne State University
; and
Yaminette Diaz-Linhart
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Key to Success was Having the Right People in the Room: Forming Tripartite Worker Boards
Jiyoon Park
*,
Rutgers University
Labor organizing in the U.S. and Korean Video Game Industries
Hsiao-Hui Tai
*,
Chinese Culture University
Nien-chi Liu
Hua-Ling Chen
and
Ming-Jhe Jeng
National Taiwan University
ESG-S Disclosures of Employee Labor & Human Rights: Organizational Coverage and Consistency in Taiwan's Financial Institutions
12.25
Bridging the Divide at Public Universities: Tripartite Solutions
(Practitioner resources)—Fjords 3
In unionized public universities, faculty voice is expressed through two overlapping structures-shared governance bodies and collective bargaining units. This panel explores how senates, unions, administrators, and neutrals navigate that dual system, where collaboration and conflict often coexist. Drawing on cases from major state systems, panelists-a faculty senate leader, a union leader, a senior administrator, and a neutral mediator-examine jurisdictional boundaries, consultation challenges, and coordination mechanisms that can either fragment or strengthen faculty influence. Together they offer strategies for aligning governance and bargaining to create coherent, effective representation in an era of fiscal strain and political scrutiny.
Moderator:
Thomas J. Norman
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Panelists:
James R Johnsen
University of California, Berkeley
; and
Steven Filling
California State University, Stanislaus
Discussant:
Daniel J. Julius
Rutgers University
12.30
Author Meets Critics: Legalized Inequalities
(Public policy implementation)—Fjords 4
In Legalized Inequalities: Immigration and Race in the Low-Wage Workplace the authors investigate the government's role in perpetuating "bad jobs" for low-wage immigrant workers of color. Contemporary U.S. labor and employment law, immigration policy, and enduring racisms work in tandem to keep workers' wages low, lock them into substandard working conditions, and minimize opportunities for advancing worker power. Along with showcasing the crushing consequences of US policy, both past and present, the book also highlights how immigrant workers reclaim their dignity in the face of these obstacles. Critics will assess the book's main claims and will explore implications for legal reform and labor organizing.
Moderator:
Maite Tapia
Michigan State University
Presenters:
Kati Griffith
*,
Cornell University
Author of Legalized Inequalities
Tamara Lee
* and
Janice Fine
*,
Rutgers University
Reviewer of Legalized Inequalities
12.35
Making Mediation More Effective: Timing, Preparation, and Impact
(Practitioner resources)—Scandinavian Ballroom 1
Mediation's effectiveness depends on when and how it's used. This session brings together labor, management, and neutral voices to share strategies that make mediation most productive-from timing the request and framing the issues to managing the start, middle, and close of the process. With fewer public resources and expanding caseloads, has the use of mediation itself changed? Panelists offer practical tools, lessons learned, and field-tested approaches to ensure mediation delivers results even in complex or resource-strained environments.
Moderator:
Javier Ramirez
Cornell University, ILR School
Panelists:
Merrick Dresnin
Cote Hospitality, Chief People Services Officer
12.40
Regulating Care: Labor, Licensure, and Access
(Research-centered)—Scandinavian Ballroom 2
Chair:
Chair Opportunity Available
Interested? Contact LERA
Presenters:
Yun Taek Oh
*,
University of Nevada Reno
; and
Morris M. Kleiner
University of Minnesota
Do Non-competes Restrict Access to Healthcare? Evidence from Policy Changes in Minnesota
Haiyue Jiang
*,
University of Minnesota
Medicaid Expansion, Marriage Penalties, and Labor Supply
Wenjing Xiao
*,
East China Normal University
Long-Term Care Systems and Medical Expenditure Control: Policy Implications from Disabled Older Adults
John Fallon
*,
Boston University
Competitive Occupational Licensure: Doctors Versus Chiropractors
3:15 - 4:30 pm
LERA Councils Meeting
—Oslo
This is an open meeting. All interested LERA attendees are welcome to attend. LERA's Community Councils span industries, sectors, and interest sections. The Community Councils meeting is a key forum to discuss innovations in format and programming, challenges in leadership and operations, and otherwise advance the frontiers of this key mechanism for LERA members to build on common interests and increase impact through our work together.
Chair:
Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld
Brandeis University
3:15 - 4:30 pm
LERA 8th Junior Faculty Consortium
—Norway 1, 2, 3
Moderators:
John Kallas
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Arrow Minster
San Francisco State University
; and
Shannon Potter
Laval University
4:45 - 6:15 pm
LERA General Membership Meeting and Awards Ceremony
—Scandinavian Ballroom 3 & 4
Moderators:
John W. Budd
LERA President and University of Minnesota
; and
Beverly Harrison
Arbitrator/Mediator
Sunday
Conference Activities • 5/31/2026
9 - 10:15 am
Concurrent Sessions
13.05
Drive-thru Unionism: Organizing Workers in the U.S. Fast Food Industry
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Fast food workers remain one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S., expected to grow by over 230,000 jobs over the next ten years. This session will bring together academic research on fast food and those involved directly in organizing to understand how workers, unions, advocates and policymakers are seeking to address labor issues and protect workers within the evergrowing sector. Following two research presentations, there will be a short moderated panel discussion amongst representatives from worker organizations.
Moderator:
Emily Lemmerman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Presenters:
Jack Garigliano
*,
Northwestern University
Precarity and Organizing in Low-wage U.S. Service Iindustries: Perspectives from Non-union Fast-food Workers
Amytess Girgis
*,
University of Oxford
Any Issue That Brings People In is Our Issue: Starbucks Workers United and Intersectional Organizing as a Strategy for Union Sustainability
Panelists:
Jaz Brisack
Organizing Director of the Inside Organizer School and co-founder of Starbucks Workers United
Sheli Stein
ROC-MN
; and
John Kallas
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
13.10
State Employment Standards Enforcement More Important than Ever: The Minnesota Example
(Public policy implementation)—Bergen 2
State enforcement of labor standards laws is becoming more important than ever because of waning federal enforcement resources and weakening of federal standards. Policy makers, unions, employers, and community activists have responded by organizing local and state enforcement bodies to protect workers and law-abiding employers. Those include the Labor Advisory Council and the Minnesota Attorney General Office's Wage Theft Division. This panel will highlight enforcement in the construction industry sector drawing on the state's 2019 wage theft and 2024 anti-misclassification laws.
Moderator:
Matthew Capece
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Panelists:
John Nesse
Management Guidance, LLP
Tony Ofstead
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
; and
Lee Atakpu
Office of the Minnesota Attorney General
13.15
Author Meets Critics -- Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
"Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment", authored by Paul Osterman, offers a new perspective on how work is being reshaped. This session introduces new ideas and fresh evidence on changes in employment, followed by expert commentaries on the book's claims, insights, and implications.
Moderator:
Paul Osterman
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Panelists:
Peter Capelli
University of Pennsvylvania
Susan N. Houseman
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Chris Tilly
University of California Los Angeles
; and
David Weil
Brandeis University
13.25
LERA Editorial Committee Presents "From Manuscript to Publication: A Workshop with Journal Editors"
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
This session features editors from top-tier academic journals: Alan Benson (ILR Review and Organization Science), Dan Cornfield (Work and Occupations), Ryan Lamare (British Journal of Industrial Relations), Virginia Doellgast (ILR Review and Transfer), and Adam Schoenbachler (Work and Occupations). Each editor will provide a brief overview of their journal's editorial mission, review policies, and guidance on successfully navigating the submission and publication process. A Q&A session will follow, offering participants practical insights into the publishing process. This workshop is open to all meeting participants, with a special focus on supporting early career researchers and PhD students.
Moderator:
Xiangmin (Helen) Liu
Rutgers University
Panelists:
Alan Benson
University of Minnesota
Daniel B. Cornfield
Vanderbilt University
Ryan Lamare
London School of Economics
Virginia Doellgast
and
Adam Kaelin Schoenbachler
Cornell University
13.30
Conflict, Enforcement, and the State in Modern Labor Relations
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Chair:
Nicole L. Bynes
Petite Legal Affairs
Presenters:
Patrice M. Mareschal
*,
Jeffrey H. Keefe
and
Daniel Assamah
Rutgers University
Human Resource Management Functions and Police Use of Force
Sangeun Ha
*,
Copenhagen Business School
; and
Iris Wang
McMaster University
International Conflict Penalty in Workplaces
Kartikeya Bahadur
*,
Columbia Law School
; and
Sumati Thusoo
Rutgers University
Filling the Void: State Strategies for Worker Protection Amid NLRB Paralysis
10:30 - 11:45 am
Concurrent Sessions
14.05
New Research on Technological Change and Power at Work
(Research-centered)—Bergen 1
Chair:
Daniel B. Cornfield
Vanderbilt University
Presenters:
Virginia Doellgast
*,
Cornell University
Barbara Langes
Institute for Social Science Research, Germany
; and
Tobias Kaempf
Labour University, Germany
Building Worker Voice and Power in AI Decisions: Three Cases in the German ICT Industry
Sean O'Brady
McMaster University
; and
Jeonghun Kim
*,
Cornell University
Contested Automation: Double Indeterminacies, Job Quality, and Union Resistance in Call Centers
Hye Jin Rho
*,
Michigan State University
Christine Riordan
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
; and
Shannon Potter
Laval University
Algorithmic Management and Worker Well-being: Evidence from the National Survey of Hotel Housekeepers
Françoise Carré
University of Massachusetts Boston
; and
Chris Tilly
*,
University of California Los Angeles
From Frustration to Feeling Betrayed: Explaining Varied Worker and Manager Reactions to Chaotic Rationalization
Discussant:
Adam Seth Litwin
Cornell University
14.10
Stepping On Federal Toes? Dealing With New State and Local Labor Law
(Practitioner resources)—Bergen 2
The application of labor law to the private sector has been mostly federal since the enactment of the National Labor Relations Act. Encroachments upon the National Labor Relations Board's jurisdiction have been curtailed through preemption. Regardless we continue to see states enact captive audience laws. More recently we have seen states and local government enact supplemental labor laws, including recently in New York and California, to more broadly fill gaps which in their view NLRB has left behind. This panel will provide a practical discussion of issues for labor law practitioners and labor relations professionals.
Moderator:
Thomas A. Lenz
Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Romo
Panelists:
Christopher David Ruiz Cameron
Southwestern Law School
Joseph L. Paller
Gilbert & Sackman, a Law Corporation
; and
Jennifer Hadsall
National Labor Relations Board, Region 18
14.15
Access, Advancement, and Autonomy: Disability and Work Across Traditional and Gig Labor Markets
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Chair Opportunity Available
Interested? Contact LERA
Presenters:
Fitore Hyseni
Syracuse University
; and
Samantha Deane
*,
Rutgers University
Improving Employer Readiness to Hire People with Disabilities in Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Lauren Gilbert
*,
Rutgers University
How Do People with Disabilities Understand Subjective Career Success?
Kayleigh Edith Truman
*,
Rutgers University
Three Identities in a Trenchcoat: a Reflexive Thematic Analysis of how Neurodivergent Entertainment Workers Navigate the Gig Economy
Discussant:
Valerie Malzer
Cornell ILR School, Yang-Tan Institute
14.20
The Architecture of Collective Bargaining
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Chair:
Carla Lima Aranzaes
Pennsylvania State University
Presenters:
Dylan Michael Hatch
*,
Cornell University
Unions, Worker Cooperatives, and the Institutional Design for Economic Democracy
Jordan Cowie
*,
McGill University
; and
Lorenzo Frangi
University of Québec at Montréal
Shaping Teleworking Arrangements: Forces at Play Behind Collective Agreement Clauses
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez
Suresh Naidu
*,
Adam Reich
Aiko Schmeisser
and
Patrick Youngblood
Columbia University
Spillovers and Trade-Offs in Collective Action: Evidence from Unionized Workplaces
Santanu Sarkar
*,
Xavier Labour Relations Institute Xavier School of Management
Fragmented Production, Unified Labour? Assessing the Efficacy of Modern Global Framework Agreements
14.25
The Long Shadow of Labor Law
(Research-centered)—Fjords 3
Chair:
Daiquiri Steele
The University of Alabama School of Law
Presenters:
Jerome Braun
*,
Loyola University of Chicago
Labor Law before the New Deal and its Ramifications for Today
Sondra Menzies
*,
Independent Scholar
Is History Repeating? Evolution of the Labor Problem, 1919-2025
Gregory Lyon
*,
Georgetown University
A Moment of Hope and Promise for the Future: Strategy a Organizing at AFL-CIO, 1995-2005
14.30
Who Bears the Risk? Workers, Firms, and Adjustment in Times of Shock
(Research-centered)—Fjords 4
Chair:
Brad Markell
Clean Energy Labor Advisors
Presenters:
Giorgos Gouzoulis
*,
Queen Mary, University of London
; and
Panagiota Boukouvala
University of London
The Double Shift of Financialization: Personal Debt & Multiple Jobholding
Luis Rondan-Vasquez
*,
University of Florida
Examining the Cumulative Effect of Socio-demographic Variables on the Vulnerability to Precarious Work in Peru
Lokesh Dani
Xopolis
John S. Earle
George Mason University
Kyung Min Lee
World Bank
; and
Sungbin Park
*,
George Mason University
Are "Contingent" Workers Really Contingent? Evidence from the Pandemic Shock
Mengjie Lyu
*,
University of Michigan
; and
Julie Hui
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The Role of Workforce in Small- and Medium-Sized Manufacturers' Narratives of Advanced Technologies Adoption Motivation
12 - 1:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
15.05
Teaching, Training, and Field Work across Deep Divides in Society
(Teaching strategies)—Bergen 1
This LERA Teaching Council sponsored session features university professors, a labor educator, a facilitator/trainer, and a field researcher who will share their experiences teaching, training, and mentoring/coaching during fieldwork in the current environment of polarization, animosity, and distrust. Attendees will learn about instructional and interactive challenges brought on by society's deep divides, and will hear strategies for navigating these challenges. This includes credit and non-credit classroom teaching, workplace training, and coaching/mentoring in the context of field data collection, all of which have to navigate contested terrains. The panel will be organized around brief introductory comments and then open dialogue among panelists and with people attending the session.
Moderator:
Christy Yoshitomi
American Water
Panelists:
Frank Mullins
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Walter Darr, Jr.
National Mediation & Conflict Solutions
Zachary Hylton
Brandeis University
Carla Lima Aranzaes
Pennsylvania State University
; and
Amy Livingston
University of Minnesota
Discussant:
Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld
Brandeis University
15.10
AI, Worker Voice, and Job Quality: Findings from the Telecommunications, Call Center, and Game Development Industries
(Research-centered)—Bergen 2
Chair:
Virginia Doellgast
Cornell University
Presenters:
Adam Kaelin Schoenbachler
* and
John McCarthy
Cornell University
Johanna Weststar
Western University
; and
José Quezada
Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands)
AI in Telecommunications and Game Development: The Role of Worker Voice in Management Strategy and Job Quality
Jeonghun Kim
*,
Cornell University
Strikes and the Politics of AI Adoption: Union Strategies to Regulate AI in Outsourced Public Service Work in South Korea and the United States
Stefan Ivanovski
*,
Virginia Doellgast
and
Adam Kaelin Schoenbachler
Cornell University
Leveling Up or Losing Ground? The Perceived Impact of AI on Job Quality and Occupation Identity in Game Development
Discussant:
Marvin Wells
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
15.15
Union Strategy
(Research-centered)—Bergen 3
Chair:
Alexander Busch
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Presenters:
Barry Eidlin
McGill University
Emily Lemmerman
* and
Nathan Wilmers
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
What Explains Differences in Wage Premia? New Evidence from U.S. Administrative Data Llinkages
Raquel Badillo Salas
* and
Lorenzo Lagos
Brown University
; and
Jorge Perez Perez
Banco de Mexico
Sham Unions: Evidence from the USMCA's Rapid Response Mechanism
Alexander Busch
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nidhaanjit Jain
*,
University of Chicago
; and
Sebastian Puerta
University of California, Berkeley
The Effect of "Right-to-Work" on Unions and Unionization
15.20
Transnational and Global Collective Action
(Research-centered)—Fjords 2
Chair:
Santanu Sarkar
Xavier Labour Relations Institute Xavier School of Management
Presenters:
Dumisani Samuel Hlophe
*,
Department of Public Service and Administration. South Africa
The Future of Collective Bargaining in the Era of Shrinking National Fiscus in the Public Service in South Africa
Aggela Papadopoulou
*,
City, University of London
; and
Giorgos Gouzoulis
Queen Mary, University of London
Drivers of Trade Union Membership in Greece, 1970-2019
John Ebinum Opute
*,
Christ Redeemer College
HRM Practices in Developing Economies: The Sociocultural and Institutional Framework in Collective Bargaining