Teamsters educating Teamsters is at the core of the TDU mission to win stronger contracts, enforce our rights on the job, develop rank-and-file leaders and build union power.

Founded in 1976, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) is a national network of Teamster members who work together to build a strong union from below.

TDU programs reach tens of thousands of Teamsters every year, from webinars to workshops to contract fights and contract enforcement campaigns.

TDU is 100% owned and operated by Teamster members. TDU is run by a Steering Committee of Teamster members who are elected each year at the TDU Convention. 

Get involved today.

Webinars

Thousands of members participate in TDU webinars and online workshops every year on how to win good contracts, enforce them, and organize your coworkers. You can watch previous webinars at www.tdu.org/webinars. 

Education Conferences

TDU members organize regional education conferences to network Teamsters across industries and locals. These day-long events feature workshops taught by experienced Teamsters on contract campaigns, internal organizing, contract enforcement, and grievance handling.

Workshops & Strategy Meetings

TDU workshops and strategy meetings bring members together face-to-face to educate each other and to make plans to organize for change by informing and involving the members – whether you’re looking to win grievances, prepare for contract negotiations, or even run for local union office.

UPS Teamsters United

TDU’s UPS Teamsters United network informs and mobilizes UPS Teamsters to win good contracts and enforce them. UPS Teamsters United is where stewards and members across the country come together to get advice, share contract enforcement and organizing strategies, and make plans to stand up together at UPS. Find out more at www.upsteamstersunited.org.

Contract Campaigns

TDU helps members organize to build their bargaining leverage by mounting contract campaigns that inform, involve, and mobilize the members before and during contract negotiations.

TDU Convention

More than 500 Teamster members from across the country gather every fall at the annual TDU Convention to share strategies for building union power from the bottom up and to set our course for the coming year. The TDU Convention features dozens of workshops. This year’s TDU Convention will be November 6-8 in Chicago.

Education for Union Power

“TDU helps members come together to get informed and share strategies we need to have more power.

“Last year I brought 20 of my coworkers to the Chicago TDU Education Conference. Members attended workshops on Building Power at UPS, Winning Disciplinary Grievances, and Bringing the Union to the Members. We left better educated and ready to go organize and take the fight to management.”

-Chuck Bryan, UPS, Local 710, Chicago