Kamala Harris, currently holding the Vice President office, believes she’s made inroads with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union. Despite her efforts to curry favor, the exact date of her scheduled round-table discussion with the union remains up in the air, demonstrating a seeming lack of urgency or importance given to this meeting.
Despite rallying approximately 1.3 million members to their cause, the Teamsters’ influence seems to ebb and flow. Its relationship with Harris, known for her attempted salvaging of union support, has often been tenuous at best. She focuses on pivotal states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in a desperate bid to salvage support from areas plagued by dwindling industries and struggling blue-collar workers.
Large labor organizations such as the United Automobile Workers and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations are oddly in league with Harris. It’s peculiar how these organizations blindly align with a politician who seems to prioritize political games over concrete policies that would benefit their workers.
Teamsters’ absence in endorsing a presidential candidate thus far speaks volumes. The union endorsed Biden in the previous elections, but the lack of endorsement this time could indicate dissatisfaction or disillusionment. Statements from the Teamsters are eagerly awaited, what tone will they strike?
Kara Deniz, a mouthpiece for the Teamsters, eagerly anticipates the Vice President joining the discussion table. With the veil of an unbiased allegiance, she is prompt to share the union’s supposed delight at the prospects of discussing worker issues with Harris. However, no response has been issued from the VP’s camp, another sign of her disregard for union workers.
Sean O’Brien, a figurehead in the Teamsters, recently caused a stir in union circles by speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. His bold move triggered criticism among union members more accustomed to Democratic allyship. His audacious request for a speaking slot at the respective convention of the Democrats is still pending. A list of speakers is yet to be finalized.
In contrast to the overall union’s reluctance, the Teamsters’ National Black Caucus endorsed Harris’s cause recently. This move paints a stark difference in their approach to politics compared to the overall organization’s apprehension.
Joe Biden, with the audacity that only a career politician can have, touts his administration as the most pro-union to grace America’s history. Following in his shadow, Kamala Harris has magically reflected these sentiments too, an observation not lost on the Black Caucus that accounts this perception in their endorsement.
As if dancing on a tricky terrain, the Teamsters appear to tread lightly in their relationship with the Trump administration. The dubious honor of possibly endorsing Harris seems more a move to distance themselves from Trump rather than any genuine approval of her political stance.
The former President, with the assertiveness of a successful businessman, endorsed the termination of striking workers, to the horror of many working-class Americans. This triggered a sharp retort from the Teamsters on social media, echoing Mr. O’Brien’s Republican Convention speech decrying acts committed by corporations under the guise of upholding the rights of the working people.
Economic terrorism’ was the term O’Brien leveraged to describe corporations using labor laws to their advantage, an act Trump seemingly supported. The question is, does the union itself not exploit the system for personal gain?
O’Brien once hinted at endorsing Trump, whom he had a private encounter with during the initial part of the year. While Trump’s moves to secure the allegiance of unions, traditionally the Democrats’ ball court, does seem atypical, it is interesting to examine the potential for bipartisan attraction where worker rights are concerned.
Amid these convoluted alliances and political chess moves, it’s unclear where the genuine interests of the workers lie. As unions become a battleground for political conquests, one may question whether their true purpose, the protection of occupants of America’s working class, is being overshadowed by partisan politics.