Over the past several years, I have intentionally pursued opportunities to learn more about organizing, union democracy, member rights, leadership, and the responsibility union members have to one another.

 

One of those opportunities came through Teamsters for a Democratic Union, commonly known as TDU.

 

TDU is not a competing union. It is an independent, grassroots organization made up of Teamsters, retirees, and spouses. It provides education about member rights, contracts, grievance handling, organizing, union elections, and leadership development. Its annual convention brings Teamsters together to learn from union activists, labor educators, attorneys, and one another.

 

In 2025, I was invited to speak at the TDU Convention about the movement built by Corewell nurses. I was proud to share what we had accomplished together.

 

I shared that stage with International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien and Dustin Roach, President and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 135. Dustin subsequently joined the O’Brien Zuckerman slate and was elected International Vice President for the Central Region, the same position currently held by Tom Erickson.

 

Other respected Teamster leaders have also developed through TDU. Antonio Rosario is a TDU Co Chair, Amazon organizer, veteran of the 1997 UPS strike, and nationally recognized labor organizer. Nico Hernandez is a Local 512 Teamster and member of the TDU International Steering Committee.

 

Teamsters Local 90 in Iowa provides another powerful example of labor education and member development in action.

 

Its current leadership came from Teamsters for Action, a TDU aligned rank and file reform movement that organized across Iowa worksites, listened directly to members, and won its Local election with 80 percent of the vote.

 

Local 90 is now led by two TDU leaders: Principal Officer Alano De LaRosa and President Tanner Fischer. Their progression from member to steward to organizer to Local leaders demonstrates what is possible when members are encouraged to learn, participate, and lead.

 

Today, Local 90 represents workers across Iowa, including approximately 1,700 UnityPoint nurses who voted to become Teamsters. Iowa nurses have attended the same TDU and Labor Notes educational conferences that Corewell nurses and I attended.

 

These experiences demonstrate something important: labor education makes our union stronger. It helps members understand their rights, develop organizing skills, build relationships, ask better questions, and participate more meaningfully in their union.

 

I am proud that I pursued these opportunities and shared access with other nurses. We pursued education and helped one another grow as informed, independent union members.

 

Knowledge should not be guarded. Questions should not be feared. Education should never be treated as disloyalty.

 

Strong leaders do not use knowledge to make themselves indispensable. They share knowledge so other people become stronger.

 

Be curious. Ask questions. Seek understanding. Use your voice.

 

Sources

About Us — Teamsters for a Democratic Union

2025 TDU Convention Recap — Teamsters for a Democratic Union

TDU Co-Chair Antonio Rosario Named Labor Organizer of the Year — Teamsters for a Democratic Union

Landslide Victory in Des Moines Local 90 — Teamsters for a Democratic Union

Local 90 Officers — Teamsters Local 90

UnityPoint Health Representation Case — National Labor Relations Board

Official 2026 International Officer Election Results — Office of the Election Supervisor for the IBT