David Unger

David Unger is a Senior Extension Associate for the Worker Institute’s Labor Leadership Programs, where he works to help build the NYS AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute’s presence across New York State.

David comes to Cornell from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, where he worked as a Program Coordinator for eight years while also teaching bachelor’s level courses at Empire State College. David has designed and taught courses and classes in diversity, mobilizing, strategic communications, leadership and organizing for unions and social justice organizations around New York.

Prior to his work in labor education, David spent fifteen years as a union organizer and representative for multiple unions, councils, and federations across the country—including SEIU 32BJ, UNITE HERE, Workers United, LIUNA and the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. He has led comprehensive organizing campaigns, strikes, contract fights, internal reorganizations, political campaigns, and large-scale mobilizations, and been responsible for the mentorship and training of hundreds of new union staff and member organizers.

A native of New York, David holds a BA from Cornell University, ILR School, and an MPA from Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, CUNY. He is based in the New York City Outreach office.