Surprising turn of political events, Sean O’Brien, the president of the Teamsters union, has disclosed a private meeting with Donald Trump, sparking speculation about the union’s endorsement in the 2024 elections and triggering disapproval from its progressive members.
The meeting unfolds against the backdrop of endeavors by Joe Biden and the diminishing group of Republican contenders, led by Trump, to garner support from workers and labor organizations. It comes after three years of the Biden administration’s assertions that it would champion the most pro-union presidency in US history.
The Teamsters, a union boasting 1.3 million members in diverse sectors such as packaging, trucking, manufacturing, and logistics, publicly acknowledged the meeting. They expressed gratitude to Trump for taking time to address the union’s priorities and announced an upcoming roundtable with the former president and rank-and-file union members. Trump reciprocated by sharing a photo of the meeting at Mar-a-Lago.
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However, progressive leaders within the Teamsters expressed surprise at the meeting. Sean O’Brien, elected in 2021 with the support of a progressive labor coalition, pledged to revitalize the union’s fighting spirit, challenging the influence of the Hoffa family. Some leaders now find the meeting disconcerting, emphasizing the need to clarify to members the potential repercussions of supporting Trump, citing concerns about pensions, workers’ rights, and the working class.
Critics within the union, such as Richard Hooker Jr. and Chris Silvera, deemed the Trump administration as akin to “Confederates,” expressing discontent with Trump’s history of appointing anti-union judges and overseeing a National Labor Relations Board that made organizing workers more challenging.
Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU), a traditionally left-leaning rank-and-file caucus supporting O’Brien, did not respond to requests for comment. The meeting with Trump places the Teamsters at odds with other major labor organizations, many of which have unequivocally rejected Trump’s third presidential bid.
The union vote holds significance, especially in union-dense swing states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Trump gained unexpected support from some Teamsters members in 2016, traditionally Democratic voters.
While the Teamsters have extended invitations to other presidential candidates, Trump is the first major contender to accept. The move has sparked debates within the union, with spokesperson Kara Deniz asserting the importance of engaging with leading Republican candidates.
In contrast, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has rejected Trump’s overtures during their strike, emphasizing that Trump’s re-election would be a “disaster.” The UAW, like the Teamsters, has not yet endorsed Biden.
As unions wield significant influence in elections, Biden’s commitment to being the “most pro-labor president” faces scrutiny. At least 13 member unions of the AFL-CIO have re-endorsed President Biden, condemning Trump’s record as “catastrophic for workers” and expressing concerns about the potential erosion of hard-fought gains under a Trump administration.
