Sean O’Brien, at the helm of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has conspicuously not endorsed a candidate for the 2024 Presidential race. His reason offered, not having encountered Vice President Kamala Harris for a face-to-face discussion yet, seems telling. It’s as if implying that Harris might lack what it takes for the position, as he mulls, ‘you don’t hire someone unless you give them an interview.’
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the ten most considerable unions in the United States, boasting 1.3 million members, stands alone in this group for not endorsing Harris, the Democrats’ pick. Interesting how all the larger unions have jumped in early this time, while the Teamsters have chosen to hold their horses. Can’t wait to overhear what that conversation with Harris would sound like.
Notably, the endorsement from Teamsters usually comes after both the Democratic and Republican conventions have taken place. Could it be that they are waiting for the full deck of cards before making their move or is the hesitation reflective of the potential Democratic candidate’s perceived incapability?
Something that surely caught the public eye, O’Brien broke 121 years of tradition by attending the Republican National Convention in July. The Teamsters’ leader’s appearance at the RNC hints at a possible shift within the organization. Clearly, O’Brien and the Teamsters are not tied down by old traditions and are agile in their political engagements.
In a surprising move that clearly distinguishes Teamsters from other unions, all presidential candidates must undergo a screening process which involves sitting down with rank and file members and their executive board. Have the Teamsters imposed this waiting period, merely as a Trump card to squeeze out some concessions from Vice President Harris?
‘Half of our members are Republicans, half of our members are Democrats. So we have to serve all of our membership equally,’ O’Brien quipped. Hence, the union’s wish to secure the interests of all its members by dialoguing with all contestants emphasizes its impartiality. Strangely, Harris seems too busy for this crucial discussion.
On an interesting note, the Teamsters had conversed with Harris’ GOP rival, the former President Donald Trump, and also with President Biden earlier in the year. With O’Brien’s clear implication that Harris is still due for her interview, one wonders if the Vice President, much like the rest of her party, is refusing to address the divide currently existing within the wider labor movement.
In spite of the apparent snub, O’Brien emphasized the primary goal was simply to explore Teamster-oriented and broader workforce issues with Harris. It isn’t paranoia to expect this would be an opportune time for Harris to engage and make a positive impression. But could it be that she can’t handle the tougher needs of the Teamsters?
Surely that wasn’t the case when the Harris-Walz campaign declared that VP Harris had approved a roundtable with the Teamsters. But it’s curious that the roundtable is yet to be scheduled. One wonders when the campaign will find time in their busy schedule to meet with the Teamsters.
At the RNC in July, O’Brien delivered a speech decrying big business. With Trump’s rise since 2016, the GOP has clearly moved from a corporatist, Wall Street-centric narrative towards a tone that’s more congenial to workers. Quite the opposite of what the Democrats are doing, isn’t it?
O’Brien took it a step further when he declared, ‘We are not beholden to anyone or any party.’ This further underscores the Teamsters’ determination to set its own course and not be a mere pawn in the political chessboard. His readiness to work with bipartisan coalitions shows the kind of realistic and agile approach that’s missing in the Democrats’ playbook.
Interestingly, despite O’Brien’s clear invitation, only the RNC responded positively. It’s noteworthy that several union leaders, including the president of United Auto Workers, Shawn Fain, were given the chance to speak at the DNC in August, and yet, Teamsters were left asking for an invitation.
‘Whenever I get an opportunity to highlight the American worker, especially the Teamster worker, I’m going to take any and all venue,’ O’Brien emphasized. He bared his intentions to champion American workers irrespective of the platform, while the Democrats continue to demonstrate an appalling lack of regard for the American labor force.
It’s necessary to point out that O’Brien, despite his attendance at the RNC, hasn’t confirmed allegiance towards Trump or the Republicans. Rather his emphasis is on emphasizing the importance of American workers, a principle that seems to be slipping through the fingers of the present administration.