Sean O’Brien, the President of the Teamsters, expressed his frustration in a podcast interview regarding how Democrats have failed to support working class union members for the past 40 years. He stated that despite being a Democrat himself, the party has not lived up to its promises. O’Brien criticized the Democratic Party for being bought and paid for by Big Tech and not delivering tangible results for union members. The Teamsters, who typically endorse Democrats, chose not to formally back a candidate in the upcoming election after polling results showed overwhelming support for Republican Donald Trump among union members.
The union conducted a poll that revealed 59.6% of members backing Trump compared to only 34% for Vice President Kamala Harris. O’Brien emphasized that if such a significant portion of their members do not support the Democratic Party, it indicates a broken system that needs to be addressed. He highlighted the shift in support for Republicans, who claim to represent the working class, while Democrats have failed to do so effectively. O’Brien had a contentious exchange with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer over the Teamsters’ distance from Democrats, as well as criticizing California Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing a Teamster-backed bill to ban autonomous trucking.
O’Brien also cited past instances where the Teamsters refused to back a Democrat, such as in 1996 when they did not endorse Bill Clinton due to the NAFTA free trade agreement’s impact on jobs. He praised Trump for renegotiating NAFTA during his presidency. O’Brien identified Amazon as the Teamsters’ biggest opponent and vowed to challenge the internet retailer’s model of using independent contractors who lack standard benefits. He criticized politicians who claim to support working people but are heavily influenced by tech companies. O’Brien supported Trump’s plan to eliminate income taxes on overtime pay and pledged to hold him to that promise if he wins the election.
The Teamsters president emphasized the union’s readiness to take on powerful companies like Amazon, Uber, Lyft, and Google, whom he referred to as “schoolyard bullies.” O’Brien expressed a willingness to fight for the interests of union members and hold whichever candidate wins the election accountable. He highlighted the discrepancy between politicians claiming to support workers while being influenced by tech companies. O’Brien’s blunt assessment of the political landscape and his commitment to advocating for the working class reflects growing dissatisfaction among union members with the traditional parties and a willingness to support candidates who address their concerns directly. The Teamsters’ decision not to endorse a candidate for the election indicates a shift in union politics as they seek to align themselves with candidates who prioritize their members’ interests.
