April 4 , 2007

The Institute of Industrial Relations, one of the oldest and most active research institutes at UC Berkeley, has changed its name. The new name is The Institute for Research on Labor and Employment (IRLE).

The Berkeley campus has long been a center for innovative research about work, employment trends, and the labor force. IRLE's decision to update its name reflects its leadership in labor and employment research, and also strengthens the University's new statewide initiative, the Miguel Contreras Labor Program, of which IRLE is a campus-level program.

"The decision to update the Institute of Industrial Relations' name has been under discussion for some time," said Director Michael Reich. "We felt that with the Regents' vote in favor of the Contreras program, it was the right moment to change our name. California academics are leaders in many areas, such as analyzing living wage and minimum wage policies, the impact of "big box retailers", workforce demographics, new trends among labor unions, and "smart" urban and regional planning," he added. "IRLE is very well-poised to advance the study not only of organized labor and its role in society, but also newly emerging fields."

University of California labor programs began 60 years ago when former UC President Clark Kerr founded and became the first director of the Institute of Industrial Relations at UC Berkeley. The same year, a similar institute was created at UCLA, and 20 years later, the Center for Labor Research and Education was established - one at each institute - to carry out service and outreach activities with union and community partners. UCLA's center is also changing its name to the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, in keeping with the long tradition of collaboration between the Berkeley and UCLA institutes.

IRLE has attracted more than 85 faculty affiliates from 19 schools and departments. This strong faculty presence reflects the crucial importance of understanding how changes in work and employment and in the workforce affect all areas of modern life.

"IRLE has a very strong presence on the Berkeley campus and we are also part of a statewide network of academics spanning all UC campuses," Reich said. "The Contreras Program enables faculty throughout the state to seek research funds under the UC Labor and Education Research Fund (LERF) program, which has had a substantial impact over the past three years," he added.

Academic and Community Programs: New Growth

IRLE hosts many programs, both research-oriented and in community outreach. The Center for Labor Research and Education (CLRE) has played an important role in exploring crucial issues facing employers and workers, and training diverse new generations of labor leaders. In recent years, the CLRE has contributed ground-breaking studies in many areas, including the public costs of low-wage work, job crises facing African-Americans, the restructuring of the retail industry, trends in job-based healthcare, and labor issues in China.

IRLE's award-winning Library has undergone an extensive renovation, with the addition of a new Information Gateway, and a beautiful reading room. California Public Employee Relations, the most prominent journal for California public employee research, continues to offer incisive analyses of legal trends. The Center for the Study of Child Care Employment is a national leader in studying the emerging sector of child care employment, training and accreditation.

Most importantly, IRLE has committed itself to strong faculty support. "IRLE provides direct support to Berkeley faculty, funding graduate student researchers, sponsoring high-profile conferences and offering a colloquium series," Reich said. "The Contreras Program has greatly extended our reach, and I have made substantial support for new faculty a top priority." This has been particularly meaningful for IRLE, as the Berkeley campus has undergone an extended era of faculty recruiting. "Over the past ten years, many of the best researchers in the world have been attracted to Berkeley," Reich said. He envisions a more prominent role for IRLE in supporting new faculty, and engaging in collaborative work with other campus programs.

More information about IRLE may be found at its Web site, http://www.irle.berkeley.edu. In the coming weeks, IRLE will transform its Web and publications to reflect its new name. "In the mean time," said Director Reich, "We're ramping up for more research and community services."