*Important: please see new details below about the Labor Notes portion of the Convention.
Railroad Workers United (RWU) will conduct our 10th Biennial Convention Thursday, June 11th through Sunday, June 14th, 2026 in the Railroad Capital of the World - Chicago! Please join us as we celebrate 18 years of rank & file action and organizing, and help us as we chart the future course for our organization.
Why 4 days? As we do every two years, we schedule the 2-day RWU Convention (June 11-12) to coincide with the Labor Notes Conference* (June 12-14), the largest conference of grassroots rank & file union activists in the country. We hold our convention in the same hotel, several of us sit on Labor Notes Conference panels, and we generally encourage RWU members to attend both events. There is no obligation to register or attend the Labor Notes portion of the weekend.
*As of Feb 25, 2026, General Registration for the 2026 Labor Notes Conference is closed, but they have a waiting list for individuals and we encourage all those interested, especially RWU working railroaders coming to the RWU Convention, to put themselves on the list.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE LABOR NOTES WAIT LIST.
Please email RWU (see contact info below) and give us a heads up if you have put yourself on the Labor Notes waiting list.
RWU CONVENTION + LABOR NOTES CONFERENCE LOCATION:
Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Rosemont (suburb of Chicago)
*This is a union hotel
9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
IMPORANT REGISTRATION & HOTEL BOOKING INFORMATION
This form (go to bottom of page) is used only to register to attend the RWU Biennial Convention (June 11-12). You must get on the waiting list for the Labor Notes Conference separately, and you must book your hotel room for the weekend separately.
**To get on the waiting list for the Labor Notes Conference (June 12-14), see above.
**To book a room for the weekend, the Labor Notes Conference hotel is now full, BUT Labor Notes has a selection of nearby hotels at which any RWU Convention registrant can make a reservation.
Whether you are going to the Labor Notes Conference or not, use the Labor Notes room block at one of these overflow hotels, and select or ask for the special Labor Notes rate.
To book a hotel go to this link and scroll down to "Hotel Booking."
Important: Even these overflow hotels may sell out, so please consider reserving a room(s) as soon as possible, knowing you can cancel your reservation 48 hours in advance if your plans change.
CONFERENCE FEES:
The RWU Convention registration fee* is $75, which you will pay when you register below (includes all sessions, materials, lunch and sundries for both days).
The Labor Notes Conference fee is $165 if you register at the "early bird rate" by April 1, 2026 (otherwise the fee is $195). Get on the waiting list as soon as you can.
*RWU Conventon financial hardship rates are considered on a case by case basis. Please contact us at our info below to inquire.
RWU CONVENTION EVENT CONTACTS:
*Email is the preferred method of contact for questions about the Convention and registration. If you would like any of us to call you, feel free to indicate so in your email, or leave a message at the general RWU phone number below.
General Information & Event Questions
email: info@railroadworkersunited.org
phone: 202-798-3327
Nick Wurst - General Secretary
secretary@railroadworkersunited.org
Sigrid Peterson - Administrative Staff
rwustaffsig@gmail.com
Keegan Waller - Membership Organizer
rwu.organizer@gmail.com