The Teamsters union is set to host a roundtable discussion with Vice President Kamala Harris, but union President Sean O’Brien has not received an invitation to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week. O’Brien previously spoke at the GOP convention, which angered some Democrats. Despite his request to speak at the Democratic Convention, O’Brien has not received a reply. However, the Teamsters will have a presence on the convention stage, according to a person briefed on convention planning.
Democrats have traditionally been the party of labor unions, with most major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, endorsing Harris. The Teamsters, on the other hand, met with Harris’s GOP opponent, Donald Trump, in January. O’Brien criticized both major political parties for not doing enough to help working people during his speech at the Republican convention. The decision on a presidential endorsement from the Teamsters will be made after the conventions. Earlier this year, Trump met with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in an effort to earn the union’s support.
During a discussion on the social media platform X with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump praised Musk for firing workers who went on strike. Musk laughed and agreed with Trump, leading to accusations of both being anti-labor. The United Auto Workers filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the statements from Trump and Musk interfered with workers who may want to join a union. O’Brien also criticized Trump and Musk, calling the act of firing workers for organizing, striking, and exercising their rights as economic terrorism.
The statements made by Trump and Musk have sparked criticism from unions, with UAW President Shawn Fain stating that both individuals want working-class people to sit down and shut up, openly laughing about it. Trump’s campaign dismissed the allegations as frivolous and a “shameless political stunt.” O’Brien’s statement also condemned the actions of Trump and Musk, emphasizing that firing workers for exercising their rights goes against American values. The NLRB has stated that it will investigate the allegations made by the United Auto Workers against Trump and Musk.
Despite not receiving an invitation to speak at the Democratic National Convention, the Teamsters will continue to engage in the political landscape and advocate for the rights of working people. O’Brien’s request to speak at the convention remains unanswered, but the union is working with Harris’s campaign on dates for a roundtable discussion. The decision on a presidential endorsement will be made after the conventions, and the Teamsters are set to have a presence on the convention stage. The ongoing discussions surrounding labor rights and the involvement of unions in political events highlight the importance of advocating for working-class individuals within the political sphere.
