Teamsters Holding Off Presidential Endorsement Until Harris Meeting, Union President Says

International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien speaks during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the United States, wants Vice President Kamala Harris to meet with them before the group decides whether to endorse the presidential candidate for the November race.

While Teamsters has historically endorsed a presidential candidate after the Democratic and Republican conventions, this time, it’s a “little different,” Teamsters President Sean O'Brien said in a Sept. 1 interview with CBS.

“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, and we’re waiting on Vice President Harris to commit to come meet with us,” he said.

President Joe Biden met with Teamsters leaders in March to seek its backing. During the meeting, the president discussed protecting workers’ right to strike, curbing executive compensation, and other matters.

When asked whether there were any concerns that Harris might be less pro-labor and less pro-union than Biden, O’Brien replied that everyone has a different leadership style and the union wants the “opportunity to sit down with Vice President Harris.”

“I said to someone the other day, you don’t hire someone unless you give them an interview,“ he said. ”And you know, this is our opportunity to ask her about Teamster-specific issues and also labor issues. So until we have that meeting, you know, obviously we will wait to make that determination.”

O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. It was the first time that a Teamsters president made an appearance at any Republican National Convention. The incident led to hostility from some quarters, with O’Brien saying that “the left” called him “a traitor.”

In his CBS interview, the Teamsters leader said the union asked both Democrats and Republicans for an opportunity for him to speak at their conventions.

“The Republican National Convention immediately responded to us, didn’t try and edit any of our messages, and I was hopeful that the Democrats would do the same, but they didn’t,” he said.

“I’m not upset about it, but I can tell you this, my rank and file members, who have been lifelong Democrats, are not happy about it.”

Out of the 1.3 million members in the union, half are Republicans and half are Democrats, he noted.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Harris campaign team for comment on the Teamster president’s statements but did not receive a response by publication time.

Union Endorsements

Both Harris and former President Donald Trump have notched up several endorsements ahead of the November elections.

Harris was endorsed by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in July. UAW President Shawn Fain said the union will aim to “defeat Donald Trump and elect Kamala Harris to build on her proven track record of delivering for the working class.”

He went on to characterize Trump as a billionaire who “stands against everything” the union stands for.

The American Federation of Teachers is also backing Harris. The organization said Harris champions “public schools, investing in mental wellness, career and technical education, and community schools.” Conversely, it accused Trump of seeking to “defund and destabilize” public education.

Meanwhile, the former president secured the backing of police associations for his second term in office.

In February, the International Union of Police Associations endorsed Trump. It criticized Democrat policies such as defunding the police, opening borders, and favoring sanctuary cities, noting that cities that have embraced sanctuary measures have seen a rise in gangs terrorizing retail outlets and businesses shutting down operations.

“President Trump’s history of support for the men and women of Law Enforcement is unmatched,” the association said. “His policies and actions were directed at improving safety in our communities and the men and women who provide that shield. He has earned and deserves our wholehearted support.”

Similarly, the Florida Police Benevolent Association asked its 30,000 members to cast their ballots for Trump in the presidential race.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) endorsed the former president in July while criticizing Biden–Harris administration policies.

The group accused the administration of being anti-competitive and inflationary,which it says undermines “taxpayer investments in America’s infrastructure.”

“ABC is looking forward to working with a president who is willing to welcome all of the U.S. construction industry to rebuild America,” the group wrote in a letter to the Trump campaign.