2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), the most successful and durable rank-and-file movement in the history of U.S. labor. 

When TDU was founded, the Teamsters union was influenced at its highest levels by organized crime. Rank-and-file activists were sometimes met with violence. TDU members persisted.

We won the right to vote for our International Union officers and the delegates to the Teamsters Convention.

We fought concessionary contracts and helped win changes to the Teamsters Constitution that require majority rule on contract votes and rank-and-file members on all bargaining committees. 

Even when we were fighting organized crime, TDU members never believed that the problem was a few bad or corrupt leaders, it’s not enough leaders. 

The labor movement needs thousands of rank-and-file leaders. 

TDU works to build union power from the bottom up through workshops and leadership development programs, contract campaigns, strikes, and helping members build stronger local unions, including by running for local union office. 

Raising $200,000 In 2026

TDU is funded by memberships and donations from Teamsters. Our sister organization, the Teamster Rank and File Education and Legal Defense Foundation (TRF), raises money from union supporters. 

To celebrate our 50th Anniversary we have launched a campaign to raise $200,000 to establish the Ken Paff Future Leaders Fund, named after a founding member of TDU.

The Future Leaders Fund will fund programs to train leaders and build rank-and-file power. 

To reach our fundraising target, we are raising $100,000 from Teamsters, which will be matched by $100,000 in donations to TRF from public supporters.