TDU members joined more than 4,700 activists, organizers, and troublemakers from across the labor movement at this year's Labor Notes Conference in Chicago.
The Labor Notes Conference features three days of union education workshops, panels, and networking events. Union members from the entire labor movement share their strategies for organizing, representation, strikes, bargaining, and more.
Educational Workshops and Panels
TDU members and organizers led 27 workshops ranging from contract campaigns to how to build solidarity among hospital workers to “How to Run for Union Office.” Teamsters shared their insights with union members and staff from across industries and the world.
TDU Co-Chair Bryan Trafford of Louisville Local 89 and Indiana Local 135 Organizer Dave Schneider discuss how to grow membership in Right To Work States in the workshop "Building Density in the Open Shop"
TDU Organizer Willem Morris, Chicago Local 710 member Chuck Bryant, and TDU Steering Committee members Tyler Condo (Colorado Local 455) and Antonio Rosario (New York Local 804) reflect on keeping members engaged after the 2023 UPS contract campaign in the panel "From Contract Struggle to Shop Floor Power at UPS"
Teamsters Local 2024 member and Corewell Michigan Nurse Katherine Wallace talked about how healthcare system consolidation undermines working conditions in the workshop “Union Fights on Mergers and Corporate Consolidation”
Ben Reynolds (Kansas City Local 41) shares strategies for winning lasting solutions to shop-floor issues in "Getting off the Grievance Treadmill."
Minneapolis Local 320 steward Grady Johnson discusses the contract campaign that led to the historic 2025 University of Minnesota strike in “Caucuses and Contract Campaigns”
A Proud Past & A Fighting Future: 50 Years of TDU
More than 200 supporters from across the labor movement joined TDU at our Friday night reception and fundraiser celebrating 50 years of building worker power from below.
We raised over $19,000 to support the continued growth of our movement. Thank you!
Horseshoe Casino Teamsters Win "Troublemaker" Award
We are proud of rank-and-file Horseshoe Casino workers in Indiana Local 135 for winning the Labor Notes 2026 “Troublemaker Award”. Local 135 Horseshoe Teamsters launched a successful 52-day recognition strike in 2025, showing that workers can beat Labor Board delays with militant action. TDU members Tera Arnold, Dakota Massman, and Tina Olinger accepted the award on Saturday evening.
From left to right: Horseshoe Local 135 Teamsters Tera Arnold, Tina Olinger, and Dakota Massman
What's Next?
If you left the Labor Notes conference feeling just as energized as we did, register early for the TDU Convention from Nov. 6-8, 2026 to receive a discount on your registration. We'll see you there!