Labor and Employment Law Section 2026 Fall Meeting

Join us for the Labor and Employment Law Section fall 2026 Meeting in Ithaca, NY!
Dates: Friday, October 2nd – Sunday, October 4th
**Optional arrival on Thursday October 1st is available at the negotiated hotel room rate
**Program begins on Friday October 2nd
Location: The Statler Hotel | 130 Statler Dr, Ithaca, NY 14853
HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
Link: https://be.synxis.com/?hotel=27455&chain=10328&rate=FALLLABOR26&arrive=10/02/2026&depart=10/04/2026
Code: FALLLABOR26
*Participants must use the drop down next to the PROMO CODE to select GROUP CODE when entering your special rate code via the Statler Hotel Website.
Participants can also email or call the hotel requesting a reservation under the (Labor and Employment Section Fall 2026) block.
statler_reserve@cornell.edu or 800-541-2501 or 607-254-2500
The Statler is currently $30 per night per vehicle, subject to change. Parking is limited to overnight guests. Day-guest parking must be arranged in advance and a fee will be applicable.
ACTIVITIES:
- Cayuga Lake Wine Trail The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail is America's first wine trail.
- Cornell Botanical Gardens The iconic Cascadilla Gorge Trail connects downtown Ithaca with the Cornell Campus.
- Museum Of The Earth One of the best things to do in Ithaca with kids because it features numerous hand-on exhibits and an enormous collection of fossils including the Hyde Park mastodon.
- Things to do in Ithaca Waterfalls and wineries. Art and theater. Outdoor recreation and family fun. Discover what makes Ithaca such a great place to visit!
PROGRAM AGENDA: TBD
MEETING REGISTRATION FEES:
Section Member – $400.00 early bird rate until August 14th – $350.00
NYSBA Member (non-section member) – $600.00
Non-NYSBA Member – $1,295.00
First time attendee – $400
Guest – $400.00
The cancellation policy is as follows:
Cancellations received more than 14 days from the scheduled event date – 100% refund
Cancellations received between 5-13 days from the scheduled event date – 50% refund
Cancellations received less than 5 days before the scheduled event date – No refund
Sponsored By

Saturday Meeting Room Wi-Fi Sponsor

- October 2, 2026
- October 4, 2026
- 11:00 AM
- 3:00 PM
- 0.0
- Ithaca
- The Statler Hotel at Cornell University
130 Statler Drive
Ithaca, NY 14853
New York State Bar Association
Labor and Employment Law Section
Fall Meeting 2026
October 2-4, 2026
Ithaca, New York
This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys including those
newly admitted.
Agenda
Friday, October 2, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Welcome and Introduction
1:30 – 3:00 Plenary 1 - The William Herbert Memorial Plenary Session - Collective Bargaining in Higher Education
This plenary session will provide an update on collective bargaining in higher education. It will provide an overview of issues including precedent labor history, and data on a nationwide basis. The session will examine hot issues including academic freedom, job security, and discrete bargaining issues.
3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Workshop Sessions (3)
Employment Law and Justice Impacted Individuals
Around 70 million adults in the United States and 2.2 million New Yorkers have a criminal record. Prosecution and incarceration have had a greater impact on people of color. New York State Corrections Law Article 23-A and the NYS Human Rights Law protect individuals from discrimination in employment. This program will explore employer’s obligations and applicants’ rights with respect to hiring individuals with criminal histories, presented through a unique and engaging format.
Religion & Conflict in the Public & Private Workplace
This panel will explore how religious beliefs are increasingly being positioned as in conflict with other rights in the workplace, including in relation to gender identity, bathroom usage, and vaccination requirements.
Wage Theft Workshop
The number of wage theft cases filed by New York workers with lower and/or minimum wage jobs has risen significantly since the start of 2025. This workshop focuses on how employees, especially immigrant communities who are most affected by federal immigration policies, have responded.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
7:00 p.m. Dine-a-Round (more details to come)
9:00 p.m. Jazz “Wine Down” at the Statler Hotel Lounge
Saturday, October 3, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Committee Meetings
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Plenary 2 - Cannabis Industry Organizing Labor Law 201-d Issues Federal
Interaction
This plenary will focus on labor issues impacting the cannabis industry. More details to follow.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Plenary 3 – Disparate Impact in the 21st Century
This plenary will discuss recent developments pertaining to disparate impact claims. More details to follow.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch & Learn
1:00 p.m. Enjoy Ithaca
Sunday, October 4, 2026
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting
- In-Person
- LABRFA26
- Committee on Continuing Legal Education
- Labor & Employment Law Section

