2026 Labor Notes Conference: Full Schedule

3:05pm CDT

The Biggest Union-Busting Effort in U.S. History: Federal Workers Fight Back

Friday June 12, 2026 3:05pm - 4:50pm CDT

The Trump administration has set its sights on unions in the federal sector, tearing up contracts covering hundreds of thousands of workers in one of the single largest attacks on collective bargaining rights ever seen in the U.S. Hear about what those attacks have meant for federal workers and the services they provide, and about how they have been organizing in response.

Moderators

Jacob Morrison

Government Employees (AFGE) 1858

Speakers

Paul Osadebe

Government Employees (AFGE) Local 476

Suzanne Englot

Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3911

Laura Griffin

Government Employees (AFGE) Local 476

Micah Niemeier-Walsh

Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3840

Friday June 12, 2026 3:05pm - 4:50pm CDT
Rosemont CD

Government Workers Political Education

9:00am CDT

The Fight for the VA: Veterans and Union Members Organize

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

Mirabel

The murder of VA nurse and AFGE member Alex Pretti, during anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis, drew national attention to the role of federal workers in resistance to the Trump administration. This panel brings together VA caregivers and health care reform advocates to discuss union mobilization of vets within their own ranks, efforts to build cross-union unity among VA labor organizations currently stripped of bargaining rights, and “Save The VA” coalition-building.

Moderators

Mark Smith

National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 1

Speakers

Mae apGovannon

AFGE Local 2157, Federal Unionists Network

Suzanne Gordon

NewsGuild-CWA

David Marshall

CWA Local 6215, Texas AFL-CIO

Aimee Potter

AFGE Local 789, Federal Unionists Network

Latisha Thompson

AFGE Local 1793, Federal Unionists Network

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

Politics Health Care Workers Government Workers

2:15pm CDT

Public Sector Fightback

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

Lambert

Public sector workers provide vital services working people depend on, and they're a bastion of union strength. That's why the 1 percent and their political allies love to attack the public sector through austerity and union-busting. Hear how unions are organizing and fighting back.

Moderators

Bill Bradley

CWA District 1

Speakers

Sarah Dowd

New York State Nurses

Ashley Fueston

Washington Federation of State Employees

Jenn Powell

Communications Workers of America Local 3170

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

Government Workers

2:15pm CDT

Black Workers and the Public Sector

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

Lindbergh

Unionized publc sector employment has been a critical source of stability for Black workers both historically and today. Austerity and attacks on public workers are a threat to this pillar of racial justice. Hear from Black workers about their experience in the public sector and why it's so important for fighting racial inequality.

Moderators

Angela Bonilla

Portland Association of Teachers

Speakers

Margaret Cook

CWA Public, Healthcare and Education Workers

Jonathan Smith

Postal Workers (APWU)

Latisha Thompson

AFGE Local 1793, Federal Unionists Network

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

Government Workers Overcoming Divisions

4:30pm CDT

AFSCME Convention Delegates Meeting

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

McCarran

Connect with other delegates—or people running to be delegates—to AFSCME's August convention.

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

Government Workers

4:30pm CDT

Defending and Expanding Public Sector Collective Bargaining Rights

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

Vienna

Public sector bargaining laws are highly uneven across the U.S.—from states with union shop to states with absolutely no bargaining or union recognition rights for public workers. Hear how fights to win back collective bargaining rights are reinvigorating unions and empowering members.

Moderators

Government Workers Strategy Politics

2026 Labor Notes Conference

3:05pm CDT

Jacob Morrison

Paul Osadebe

Suzanne Englot

Laura Griffin

Micah Niemeier-Walsh

9:00am CDT

Mark Smith

Mae apGovannon

Suzanne Gordon

David Marshall

Aimee Potter

Latisha Thompson

2:15pm CDT

Bill Bradley

Sarah Dowd

Ashley Fueston

Jenn Powell

2:15pm CDT

Angela Bonilla

Margaret Cook

Jonathan Smith

Latisha Thompson

4:30pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

Jayanni Webster

Eyklipse Baca

Dane MacNeil

Ivy Smith

Harry Szabo

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