Teamsters Make NO Endorsement in Presidential Race

[OT+]

Breaking: Teamsters Make NO Endorsement in Presidential Race
Followimg is PR News Release from IBT

International Union Cites Strong Political Divides, Few Commitments from Candidates


Press Contact: Kara Deniz Phone: (202) 497-6610 Email: [email protected]

(WASHINGTON) — The General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Wednesday elected not to endorse any candidate for U.S. President.

After reviewing six months of nationwide member polling and wrapping up nearly a year of rank-and-file roundtable interviews with all major candidates for the presidency, the union was left with few commitments on top Teamsters issues from either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris—and found no definitive support among members for either party’s nominee.

In data publicly released earlier in the day, President Joe Biden won the support of Teamsters voting in straw polls at local unions between April-July prior to his exit from the race. But in independent electronic and phone polling from July-September, a majority of voting members twice selected Trump for a possible Teamsters endorsement over Harris.

The union’s extensive member polling showed no majority support for Vice President Harris and no universal support among the membership for President Trump.

“The Teamsters thank all candidates for meeting with members face-to-face during our unprecedented roundtables. Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business. We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries—and to honor our members’ right to strike—but were unable to secure those pledges,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.

“Our mission as union representatives is clear: to be honest and upfront, to be inclusive and, above all, to be transparent with our membership. As the strongest and most democratic labor union in America, it was vital for our members to drive this endorsement process. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents proudly call our union home, and we have a duty to represent and respect every one of them. We strongly encourage all our members to vote in the upcoming election, and to remain engaged in the political process. But this year, no candidate for President has earned the endorsement of the Teamsters’ International Union.”

During the Teamsters Rank-and-file Presidential Roundtables, the union shared feedback from members in the railroad and airline industries who work under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and are at the mercy of government intervention that often prevents work stoppages. While 10,000 Teamsters at United Airlines are currently negotiating a new agreement, tens of thousands of railroad Teamsters were forced to accept a new contract implemented by Congress without member support in 2022. In roundtable discussions with Trump in January and Harris this month, neither candidate promised not to intervene to force similar RLA contracts, which undermines workers’ bargaining leverage.

While Harris pledged, if elected, to sign the PRO Act, an essential piece of labor legislation strengthening union protections, and criticized dangerous “right to work” laws that are enacted to bankrupt unions, Trump would not commit to veto national “right to work” legislation if he returned to the White House.

“‘Right to work’ laws only exist to try to kill labor unions,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman. “It is a red line for the Teamsters and must be for any union when a candidate for elected office does not oppose such anti-worker legislation. It’s too important an issue for the labor movement as a whole to be left up to state legislatures.”

[JWebb]

This is nothing less then outrageous, it gets the union absolutly nothing and in fact makes us a pariah in the labor movement. Makes no sense.

[Noman2024]

Whoever wrote this press release is apparently as clueless as the GEB. No commitments on Teamster issues? One candidate commits to the PRO Act and the other commits to right to work? Can the GEB determine which is good and which is bad for labor? Too difficult a question? How about one candidate walks picket lines and the other holds meetings with hired "autoworkers" at a non-union facility and praises corporate criminals who think workers should be fired if they go on strike? Can we guess who is more dedicated to protecting the right to strike and collectively bargain? The decision was driven by the rank and file? What was the decision of the rank and file participants at the round table discussions? I'm told they overwhelmingly voted to endorse Harris. If true, what was the purpose of having them attend this dog and pony show only to ignore their views? And for a union with a small fraction of members who work under the RLA to base a decision solely on a rail dispute is ludicrous, no disrespect to the aviation and rail workers. This gutless non-decision only guarantees the organization will lose regardless of who is elected. Disgraceful!

[Moyama]

Whoever wrote this press release is apparently as clueless as the GEB. No commitments on Teamster issues? One candidate commits to the PRO Act and the other commits to right to work? Can the GEB determine which is good and which is bad for labor? Too difficult a question? How about one candidate walks picket lines and the other holds meetings with hired "autoworkers" at a non-union facility and praises corporate criminals who think workers should be fired if they go on strike? Can we guess who is more dedicated to protecting the right to strike and collectively bargain? The decision was driven by the rank and file? What was the decision of the rank and file participants at the round table discussions? I'm told they overwhelmingly voted to endorse Harris. If true, what was the purpose of having them attend this dog and pony show only to ignore their views? And for a union with a small fraction of members who work under the RLA to base a decision solely on a rail dispute is ludicrous, no disrespect to the aviation and rail workers. This gutless non-decision only guarantees the organization will lose regardless of who is elected. Disgraceful!

This was supposed to be about members and the ones at the meeting were unanimous for Harris? What was the vote on the GEB and how did vice presidents vote?

[JWebb]

Hearing the GEB vote was 14 to 3 to not endorse anyone.

[Bus-ted]

Well let's see, Biden was favored over Trump, and O'Brien acknowleged that Harris would continue the same pro-labor policies as Biden. And yet, with Harris at the top, the membership chooses Trump over Harris, despite Trump's praise of Elon Musk for firing striking union supporters (WTF?). I can't square this for the life of me other than the fact that O'Brien is afraid to lead and explain to the membership the differences between Trump and Harris on issues that matter to labor. It reminds me of the Simpson's episode where management offers the workers dental coverage or a keg party every Friday, and the people chose the keg party. Poor Homer was stuck paying for Lisa's braces. We all will wind up paying for Sean's weakness to lead.

[Koldiww]

Multiple Locals and JCs come out endorsing Harris after the vote. Hypocritical as it can be that GEB members vote no endorsement, while some of the same people endorse through their JCs. Was there some deal cut, where sob released them to do the right thing after his controllers held his feet to the fire, and this action that makes him look weak and out of control. The GEB embarrassed Harris by not endorsing her and this; too little too late gesture, doesn't repair the damage that has already been done by the Teamsters. This is the height of amateur hour!! But one thing for sure, sob has had a shit load of publicity for himself. The old saying, " bad publicity uis better than none at all" So unfortunate!

[SorryNotSorry]

Any word on who the 3 were?

[Gimme_Danger]

Why only 17 voting? 24 have voting rights.

[sammo1245]

Does anyone also believe this non-endorsement is ALL about SOB being butt-hurt because the DNC chose to bring 50 Retired Teamsters on stage, instead of him.

Today, showing his ego driven need to be in the center ring, he took his little circus to Fox News again.

Claiming that neither candidate agreed to support Teamster priorities.

Over the last four years, Biden-Harris have been the most union friendly, most worker friendly presidential office that I can remember.

They saved union multiemployer pensions, giving the CSPF $38 BILLION and SOB's failing New England Pension about $7 BILLION!

They've turned back the clock on Trump era NLRB policies, that were making it impossible to organize new members.

They've returned power to OSHA, the EEOC and the EPA, powers that were being reduced by trump policies and weak trump appointments.

They've supported the PROACT, which we're told is the Teamsters biggest initiative.

Meanwhile trump anti-union anti worker policies are clearly inconsistent with our union. He has vocalized many times his support for a national RTW law. Which would cut the Teamsters in half, and would result in many closed bankrupted locals and weaker contracts for those remaining Teamsters.

The non-endorsement is a sad indication of how weak our Teamsters union is under the current leadership.

[Mr. Teamster]

Does anyone also believe this non-endorsement is ALL about SOB being butt-hurt because the DNC chose to bring 50 Retired Teamsters on stage, instead of him.

Today, showing his ego driven need to be in the center ring, he took his little circus to Fox News again.

Claiming that neither candidate agreed to support Teamster priorities.

Over the last four years, Biden-Harris have been the most union friendly, most worker friendly presidential office that I can remember.

They saved union multiemployer pensions, giving the CSPF $38 BILLION and SOB's failing New England Pension about $7 BILLION!

They've turned back the clock on Trump era NLRB policies, that were making it impossible to organize new members.

They've returned power to OSHA, the EEOC and the EPA, powers that were being reduced by trump policies and weak trump appointments.

They've supported the PROACT, which we're told is the Teamsters biggest initiative.

Meanwhile trump anti-union anti worker policies are clearly inconsistent with our union. He has vocalized many times his support for a national RTW law. Which would cut the Teamsters in half, and would result in many closed bankrupted locals and weaker contracts for those remaining Teamsters.

The non-endorsement is a sad indication of how weak our Teamsters union is under the current leadership.

The majority of the members still love Trump. No matter what comes out in the next 50 days. I have seen this coming for a while. There is a large demographic of white men who fuel this movement. The only thing that will stop it is the election cycle running its course. I still think this election is close and Trump wins. The democrats are very overconfident right now.

[pvtpilot01]

This is a totally gutless move on the part of the IBT and personally, I've seen enough. I've been a DRIVE contributor for over 30 years, but I will be revoking my DRIVE deduction authorization, in writing, effective with next week's pay period. Instead, I will donate directly to candidates that support the interests of organized labor and workers.

[Thisischange?]

That really makes sense considering O'briens move to MAGA.