Teamsters President: GOP Convention Speech Focused on Workers, Not Endorsement

President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, addressed recent speculation about his speech at the Republican National Convention in July. Contrary to claims that he was endorsing Republican candidates, O’Brien emphasized that his primary goal was to draw attention to the significance of American workers.

During an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” when asked whether he believed former President Trump has been more supportive of labor than other Republican candidates, O’Brien firmly responded, “No, not at all.” He elaborated, stating, “I spoke there because it was the ability to highlight how important we are. It was the ability to call out the people, the corporate elitists who forget who built this country, the American workers.”

O’Brien clarified that his participation at the convention was not an endorsement for any Republican candidates but rather a message highlighting the essential role of workers in the economy.

His speech marked a historical moment as he became the first Teamsters president to address a GOP convention. In his address, he criticized corporate “elites” who, he argued, prioritize profits over the workforce, stating their only “loyalty is to the balance sheet.”

O’Brien also challenged the traditional union alignment with Democratic endorsements. He asserted, “We have an obligation to do our due diligence, not just automatically support one side.” His approach reflects a growing sentiment among union leaders for a more balanced political representation.

In a notable move, O’Brien requested to speak at both the Republican and Democratic conventions. However, he only received a slot at the Republican event and noted that the Democratic convention did not clarify why he was not invited. He expressed his intention to utilize every opportunity to advocate for American workers, particularly those within the Teamster union.

Despite criticism from a small segment of union leadership, O’Brien remains committed. “Whenever I get an opportunity to highlight the American worker, especially the Teamster worker, I’m going to take any and all venues,” he remarked.

As of now, the Teamsters have not officially endorsed any presidential candidate for the upcoming election cycle, taking a different stance from several other large unions that have already backed the Democratic nominee. O’Brien indicated that the union is currently waiting for Vice President Kamala Harris to engage in a roundtable discussion with members, noting that her campaign had accepted the invitation, but no date has been set.

He stated, “Historically, the Teamsters have always endorsed after both respective conventions. This time, under our leadership, we brought every single candidate to the table in front of our rank-and-file members and our general executive board.” The union is particularly eager to have Harris commit to meeting with them.

The Teamsters, one of the largest unions in the United States, previously endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020. When questioned about potential concerns regarding whether Harris might be less supportive of labor and unions than Biden, O’Brien shared that the Teamsters’ composition sets them apart from many unions.

“We represent 1.3 million members. Half of our members are Republicans; half of our members are Democrats. So we have to serve all of our membership equally,” he explained. He stressed the importance of meeting with Vice President Harris, comparing it to the hiring process: “You don’t hire someone unless you give them an interview.”

Finally, when asked about the possibility of the Teamsters not endorsing any candidate, as they did in 1996, O’Brien reiterated that the focus remains on ensuring the union endorses the best candidate for labor. He gave context to this by stating, “1996 was a long time ago. It’s all going to be driven by our rank-and-file members and our leadership. We’re a very, very Democratic union.”

Source: Nexstar Media, Inc.