Labor, Discipline and the Carceral State

Labor, Discipline, and the Carceral State is a one-and-a-half-day conference that explores the contestations over labor and solitary confinement between incarcerated people and correctional officers within the prison, with special attention given to New York State. Bringing together scholars, practitioners, and artists—including Heather Ann Thompson, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning Blood in the Water, JoeBill Muñoz award-winning documentarian of The Strike, Barry Peek and Patrick Mehler, mediators of the 2025 strike by New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association and Jennifer Scaife, executive director of the Correctional Association of New York, among others. Day 1 features a screening of The Strike followed by a fireside chat on incarcerated activism and solitary confinement in California and New York. The screening will be held in 305 Ives Hall at the ILR School. Speakers include: JoeBill Mũnoz, Director of The Strike, Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) and Devin Wiggs, Assistant Professor of Labor Law and Relations. Day 2 continues with academic research and practitioner perspectives on prison governance, activism and negotiated settlements. Day 2 will be held at the Statler Hotel. Registration is required for Day 2. Please register here if you plan to join us. Speakers include: Alexander Colvin, Dean of ILR School, Adam Reich, Professor of Sociology, David Knight, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Julia Mizutani, Law Research, Instruction, and Liaison Librarian, Gali Racabi and Devin Wiggs, Assistant Professors of Labor Law and Relations, Esta Bigler, Director of Labor and Employment Law Program, the Criminal Justice Employment Initiative at ILR School, the Cornell Prison Education Program, Barry Peek and Patrick Mehler, Mediators of the 2025 wildcat strike by members of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, Dionne Pohler, Professor of Dispute…