Throughout an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Sean O’Brien, the President of the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters—a powerhouse amongst U.S. labor unions—expressed rising dissatisfaction amongst his members in the direction of Kamala Harris and the Democratic Nationwide Committee (DNC).
This discontent stems from the DNC’s refusal to permit him to talk at their conference.
Throughout the interview, O’Brien highlighted that a lot of his 1.3 million members—who’re evenly break up between Republicans and Democrats—are feeling sidelined by the Democrat management.
“My rank and file members, who’ve been lifelong Democrats, are usually not blissful about it,” he said.
O’Brien identified that whereas different main unions have endorsed Harris and her operating mate Tim Walz, the Teamsters are nonetheless deliberating their endorsement.
He underscored that this resolution can be pushed by the wants and sentiments of their members reasonably than celebration loyalty.
“We wish the chance to take a seat down with Vice President Harris… till we now have that assembly, we are going to wait to make that willpower,” he stated.
O’Brien revealed that the Republican Nationwide Conference welcomed his participation with out making an attempt to censor his message.
“We requested each conventions… and the Republican Nationwide Conference instantly responded to us. Didn’t try to edit any of our messages. And I used to be hopeful that the Democrats would do the identical, however they didn’t,” he stated.
This openness from Republicans might result in a reconsideration of conventional voting patterns amongst union members.
O’Brien’s willingness to handle the Republican conference has raised eyebrows inside labor circles. Whereas he clarified that his look was not an endorsement of Donald Trump or any Republican candidate, it alerts a possible shift in allegiance amongst union members who really feel unrepresented by the Democrats.
Under is the partial transcript of the interview:
Nancy Cordes: You understand, you shared that message on the Republican Conference, a transfer that some members of Teamsters management did- didn’t approve of. They have been fairly vocal about that. It seems that it additionally price you a talking slot on the Democratic Conference. Did the Democrats ever let you know why they didn’t provide you with an opportunity to talk?
Sean O’Brien: No, they didn’t. And look, I’m going to say this, regardless of the critics on the market, and so they’re only a few, within the management. Each time I get a chance to focus on the American employee, particularly the Teamster employee, I’m going to take any and all venue.
We requested each conventions, respectively, on the similar time, and the Republican Nationwide Conference instantly responded to us. Didn’t try to edit any of our messages, and I used to be hopeful that the Democrats would do the identical, however they didn’t.
I’m not upset about it, however I can let you know this, my rank and file members, who’ve been lifelong Democrats, are usually not blissful about it.
Nancy Cordes: I do know there have been some members of the union who spoke, however that’s not the identical as having the chief of the group communicate. In a short time, did you select to talk on the Republican Conference, which is a fairly uncommon transfer for a union chief, since you really feel that Trump has been extra professional labor than previous Republican nominees?
Sean O’Brien: No, under no circumstances. I spoke there as a result of it was the flexibility to focus on how necessary we’re. It was the flexibility to name out the folks, the company elitist who neglect who constructed this nation, the American employees.
You understand, folks prefer to, you already know, have their very own opinions on why we have been there, however I used to be there to speak concerning the American employees. It wasn’t an endorsement for any and all Republicans. It was strictly a message about how necessary and the way helpful we’re, and to let the folks know that struggle us on daily basis, that we’re not going away.
WATCH:
BREAKING: The President of Teamsters, one of many largest labor unions within the nation, simply stated a lot of his members who’re lifelong Democrats are usually not blissful that Kamala Harris and the DNC REFUSED to let him communicate at their conference
This might result in them endorsing Trump
He… pic.twitter.com/9WOnnjolLT
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 1, 2024
