Union Leader O'Brien Abstains from Endorsing Presidential Candidates; Local Unions in Rebellion
The Teamsters Union, one of the most influential labour organisations in the United States, has announced its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate for the 2024 election. This decision comes after a straw poll earlier this year, where a plurality of Teamsters, 44%, voted for President Biden, while 36% voted for Trump.
The endorsement was made official following the Teamsters' National Black Caucus, more than a half-dozen Teamsters locals, and members of the union's national leadership's backing of Harris. This move was in contrast to Sean O'Brien, Teamsters President, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in September 2024, endorsing Trump. O'Brien's endorsement has faced criticism within the union's ranks, leading to a revolt.
In response, two Teamsters joint governing councils in the West, covering 300,000 workers including those in the swing state of Nevada, announced they would back Vice President Kamala Harris after the national union declined to endorse on Wednesday. This decision was made in light of Harris's support for the American Rescue Plan, Biden's Covid relief bill, which included a huge bailout of pension plans that will restore retirement accounts at the Teamsters for three decades.
Harris has also acknowledged the concerns of the Teamsters' rank-and-file about issues beyond labour, such as immigration. She implored Teamsters officials to tell members that she had backed a bipartisan border security bill negotiated in the Senate. However, the bipartisan border security bill was killed at the behest of Trump.
The Harris campaign emphasised that the umbrella labor organisation, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., which represents about ten times the number of workers in the Teamsters, is working hard on Ms. Harris's behalf. This support comes as the A.F.L.-C.I.O. is much larger than the Teamsters.
Michelle Espinoza, a member of Teamsters Local 135, praised Harris for her vote on the American Rescue Plan. Several other locals, including union locals in Michigan and Wisconsin, have also followed suit in endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
Notably, the Teamsters Union has a history of endorsing Democratic candidates, having backed President Biden in 2020, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Kamala Harris conceded that working-class voters, especially white men, have favoured Trump. However, she has been working to address these concerns and gain support from this demographic.
Opponents have organised a "Teamsters Against Trump" effort that has undermined O'Brien two years into his first term as president. This division within the union's leadership could potentially impact the Union's influence in the upcoming election.
In conclusion, the Teamsters Union's endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris is a significant development in the 2024 presidential race. The Union's support, along with the A.F.L.-C.I.O., could potentially swing votes in key states and influence the election's outcome.
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