Sign our petition and read below to see why the Union Glaziers need you to take action and stand in solidarity with them this week!

MAY 1, 2024 – NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The Glaziers Union seeks to inform and garner support from the public concerning Labor Faker Cornell University’s discrimination against Union Glaziers.

Glaziers – or Architectural Glass and Metal Technicians – are highly-trained craftspeople who work with glass and metal in the construction industry. The modern glazier is tasked with cutting, installing, and removing glass of all kinds, including glass windows, doors, railings, skylights, storefronts, and curtain wall systems. They help protect our classrooms, offices, and other spaces by enclosing and sealing modern buildings from the elements.

Union Glaziers in particular complete rigorous training programs in which they learn to install glass systems with precision. Further, Union Glaziers tend to be local glaziers – craftspeople who live and work in the Ithaca/Tompkins County region, paying taxes and supporting the community.

Notwithstanding their superior training, Cornell University has treated Union Glaziers like second-class citizens for decades. While Cornell honors agreements with many other unionized building trade, it refuses to recognize the Glaziers Union. Indeed, Cornell has gone so far as to award glazing work to a non-union contractor who lacks the required NACC and AGMT glazing certifications. These certifications are objective third-party verifications that a contractor and its glaziers possess the skills necessary to perform the work proficiently. Cornell has failed to honor these high standards, circumventing a Union Glazing contractor who meets those standards.

To the point: Cornell’s approach to Union Glaziers is GLASS-BACKWARDS. Despite being home to the renowned School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) – self-described as the “preeminent educational institution in the world focused on work, employment and labor” – Cornell’s allegedly pro-union principles fail to include Union Glaziers. Indeed, while Cornell might gladly accept a Union Glazier’s tuition to enroll in its “Labor Leadership Skills Bootcamp”, it fails to recognize the labor leadership that has trained the most highly skilled glaziers in the industry.

It is despicable for Cornell to ride the coattails of (and profit from!) the labor movement through its ILR school while continuing to discriminate against Union Glaziers. We believe that students, parents, professors, alumni, and the public have a right to know about Cornell’s duplicity.

To shine a light on Cornell’s hypocrisy, the Glaziers Union will engage in informational practice rallies throughout the month of May 2024. The practice rallies will culminate in our Commencement Rally on May 25, 2024.

If you or your organization wish to support our cause, please contact IUPAT DC4 Director of Organizing Frank Stento (607) 727-5208, fstento@dc4.org) at your earliest convenience. Thank you.