2026 Labor Notes Conference: Full Schedule

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9:00am CDT

Fighting the Wrongs of Management's Rights

Saturday June 13, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am CDT

The management's rights clause has found its way into almost all union contracts. For years it often consisted of a single sentence, but the longer this clause gets, the more it can undermine the whole rest of your contract. Learn why these clauses are so dangerous and how to narrow the language back down.

This session will feature a short song at the start by Joe Jencks, Musicians Local 1000.

Moderators

Don Taylor

University of Wisconsin School for Workers

Saturday June 13, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am CDT
John Wayne

Bargaining

9:00am CDT

Coordinated Bargaining

Saturday June 13, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am CDT

Lindbergh

Join us for a discussion of coordinated bargaining in various scenarios: within the same union with a common employer, across different unions with a common employer, and across different unions with different employers. Topics will include aligning contracts, coordinating actions and strikes, and negotiations strategy.

Moderators

Mark Brenner

University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center

Speakers

Sarina Roher

Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals

Matias Campos

UPTE-CWA and California Nurses

Richelle Milford

Richmond Teachers Association

Saturday June 13, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am CDT
Lindbergh

Bargaining Strategy

2:15pm CDT

Bargaining Fundamentals for a Strong Contract

Saturday June 13, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm CDT

DFW

Learn how to skillfully navigate contract negotiations! This bargaining crash course will cover legal frameworks, common terminology, drafting proposals, opening up bargaining to members, and other tips and strategies.

Moderators

Dawn Tefft

Illinois Education Association

Saturday June 13, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm CDT
DFW

Bargaining

4:30pm CDT

A.I. at Work: From Digital Workplace Tech to Contract Language

Saturday June 13, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT

LAX

Build practical skills for bargaining in this hands-on workshop. We'll examine how employers use technology and its effects on work, then work through a structured exercise to define a bargaining problem, draft targeted information requests, and develop enforceable demands and contract language. We'll draw on examples from the UC Berkeley Labor Center's Negotiating Tech inventory to highlight real-world provisions and bargaining strategies.

Moderators

Lisa Kresge

Technology and Work program, UC-Berkeley Labor Center

Richard de Vries

retired Teamster

Saturday June 13, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT
LAX

Automation and A.I. Bargaining

4:30pm CDT

Opening Up Bargaining

Saturday June 13, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT

Rosemont CD

Open bargaining isn’t a particular template or set of boxes to check. It’s more like an attitude towards democratic inclusion and power for rank-and-file members. We’ll hear from unions that have increased transparency and democracy in negotiations, along the spectrum of open bargaining, and discuss pitfalls that may occur as you close in on a tentative agreement.

Moderators

Maya Suzuki Daniels

United Teachers Los Angeles

Speakers

Caressa Aamodt

Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520

Justin Brown

Brookline Educators Union

Alano De La Rosa

Teamsters Local 90

Saturday June 13, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT
Rosemont CD

Bargaining

4:30pm CDT

Case Study: Minnesota Bargaining and Organizing Coalition

Saturday June 13, 2026 4:30pm - 6:15pm CDT

DFW

There's a backstory to the inspiring uprising in the Twin Cities. Trump picked the wrong place to pick on, because a coalition of unions and community organizations there had been planning and building together for many years. Those relationships yielded a coordinated bargaining plan in 2024, shared demands, and political power, and set the stage for mass action against Trump in 2025. Learn more about their education, organizing, and political coalition work.

Moderators

Strategy Bargaining

2026 Labor Notes Conference

9:00am CDT

Don Taylor

9:00am CDT

Mark Brenner

Sarina Roher

Matias Campos

Richelle Milford

2:15pm CDT

Dawn Tefft

4:30pm CDT

Lisa Kresge

Richard de Vries

4:30pm CDT

Maya Suzuki Daniels

Caressa Aamodt

Justin Brown

Alano De La Rosa

4:30pm CDT

Stephanie Luce

Greg Nammacher

Taylor Shevey

Catina Taylor

Jay Wahi

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