In an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Sean O’Brien, president of the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters, a strong union in america, expressed his members’ disapproval of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC). Rising dissatisfaction.
The dissatisfaction stemmed from the Democratic Nationwide Committee’s refusal to permit him to talk on the conference.
Within the interview, O’Brien emphasised that his 1.3 million members are evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, and lots of of them really feel marginalized by Democratic management.
“My rank-and-file members have all the time been Democrats, they usually’re not comfortable about this,” he mentioned.
O’Brien famous that whereas different main unions have endorsed Harris and her working mate Tim Walz, Teamsters are nonetheless contemplating their assist.
He burdened that the choice could be based mostly on the wants and sentiments of its members relatively than celebration loyalty.
“We wish a chance to sit down down with Vice President Harris … and we are going to wait to decide earlier than we’ve got a gathering,” he mentioned.
O’Brien revealed that the Republican Nationwide Conference welcomed his participation however made no try to censor his info.
“We made requests to each nationwide conventions … and the Republican Nationwide Conference responded to us instantly. There was no try to edit any of our messages. I anticipated the Democrats to do the identical, however they did not,” he mentioned.
This openness from Republicans may lead union members to rethink conventional voting patterns.
O’Brien’s willingness to talk on the Republican Nationwide Conference has raised eyebrows within the labor neighborhood. Whereas he clarified that his look was not an endorsement of Donald Trump or any Republican candidate, it marked a attainable shift in allegiance amongst union members who really feel they don’t seem to be represented by Democrats.
The next is a part of the interview transcript:
Nancy Cordes: You already know, you shared this message on the Republican Nationwide Conference, however some members of Teamster management did not agree with that transfer. They had been very vocal about it. It seems this additionally value you the chance to talk on the Democratic Nationwide Conference. Have the Democrats advised you why they did not provide you with an opportunity to talk?
Sean O’Brien: No, they do not. Look, what I am saying is, regardless of the critics are, they’re few and much between in management. At any time when I’ve a chance to spotlight American employees, particularly truck driver employees, I take it wherever I can.
We requested each conventions concurrently, and the Republican Nationwide Conference bought again to us instantly. There was no try to edit any of our messages, and I hoped the Democrats would do the identical, however they did not.
I am not upset about it, however I can let you know that my rank-and-file members, who’ve all the time been Democrats, are usually not comfortable about it.
Nancy Cordes: I do know there have been some union members who spoke, however that is not the identical as organizational leaders talking. Shortly, did you select to talk on the Republican Nationwide Conference, a really uncommon transfer for a union chief, since you really feel Trump is extra pro-labor than previous Republican nominees?
Sean O’Brien: No, by no means. I converse there as a result of it highlights our significance. It has the ability to name out folks, the company elite, who’ve forgotten who constructed this nation, the American employee.
You already know, folks wish to have their very own opinions about why we’re there, however I am there speaking about American employees. This isn’t an endorsement of all Republicans. That is strictly a message about our significance and worth, and letting the individuals who battle us day-after-day know that we’re not going away.
watch:
BREAKING NEWS: The president of one of many largest unions in america, the Teamsters, simply mentioned lots of his lifelong Democratic members are sad with Kamala Harris and the Democratic Nationwide Committee’s refusal to let him converse on the conference
This may increasingly make them assist Trump
he… pic.twitter.com/9WOnnjolLT
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 1, 2024
