Teamsters Union Rejects Endorsements for Trump and Harris in 2024

In a significant political move, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced on Wednesday that it will not endorse either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump for the upcoming presidential election. The decision by the 1.3 million-member union indicates a deeper divide regarding political identity and policy priorities.

Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien released a statement highlighting the lack of tangible commitments from both candidates. “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,” he said. The union sought assurances from both candidates against interference in important union campaigns and core industries vital to the Teamsters, as well as a pledge to honor the members’ right to strike. Unfortunately, they received no such commitments.

This decision sends a clear message about the current landscape of labor unions and the political affiliations within them. While Vice President Harris has consistently demonstrated support for organized labor, Trump has garnered attention from some segments of blue-collar workers. However, he has also faced criticism for his comments about unions and labor rights.

In a response to the Teamsters’ statement, a spokesperson for Harris pointed out that over three dozen retired Teamsters had spoken in favor of her at the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago. These retirees cited the preservation of their pensions due to the passing of the Butch Lewis Act in 2021, which was advocated by the Biden-Harris administration.

“While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing Harris’s strong union record.

Internal polling conducted by the Teamsters indicated that Trump held a slight edge over Harris among its members. This finding promptly attracted attention from Trump’s campaign, who circulated an email declaring, “the rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for President.”

Harris recently met with a panel of Teamsters, showcasing her long-standing efforts to engage with organized labor and advocating for middle-class support. Trump also engaged with the Teamsters earlier this year and had invited O’Brien to speak at the Republican National Convention.

Despite the outreach efforts made by both candidates, the Teamsters’ decision to refrain from endorsing either candidate comes as other unions, like the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, have already thrown their support behind Harris. This late decision from the Teamsters has raised eyebrows, particularly with the presidential election only weeks away.

According to Art Wheaton, a labor studies director at Cornell University, the decision not to endorse is a reaction to the backlash O’Brien faced after speaking at the Republican National Convention. Trump’s comments praising Elon Musk for firing workers involved in strikes further complicated the prospect of an endorsement, leading Wheaton to note that the union members were not in full agreement with a Trump endorsement.

Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University who focuses on labor issues, suggested that the lack of an endorsement reflects a potential realignment within the union. He noted that some workers may prioritize issues such as gun control, abortion, and border security, which may overshadow concerns regarding Trump’s past hostility to unions.

In detailing their objections, the Teamsters criticized actions related to a 2022 contract for railroad workers and expressed disappointment that neither candidate committed to not deploying the Railway Labor Act to resolve contract disputes, a move seen as detrimental to labor bargaining power.

Harris has publicly pledged support for the PRO Act, which aims to strengthen union protections, aligning with the Teamsters’ interests. In contrast, Trump did not commit to veto legislation that could make union organizing more difficult.

Other unions have also hesitated to endorse either candidate, with the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America backing Harris but expressing concerns about the method used to elevate her to the top of the Democratic ticket.

The Teamsters’ lack of endorsement underscores a broader indifference towards the Biden-Harris administration, despite its efforts that saved the pensions of millions of union retirees through the Butch Lewis Act during the pandemic.

This recent turn of events in the political realm highlights the challenges labor unions face in aligning with candidates who they feel truly represent their interests and the complexities of worker issues in today’s political climate.