In an interview with CBS’s “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 plenty of of them really feel marginalized by Democratic management.
“My rank-and-file members have at all times been Democrats, they usually’re not glad about this,” he mentioned.
O’Brien famous that whereas different main unions have endorsed Harris and her operating mate Tim Walz, Teamsters are nonetheless contemplating their assist.
He confused that the choice can be based mostly on the wants and sentiments of its members relatively than social gathering loyalty.
“We wish a possibility to sit down down with Vice President Harris … and we’ll wait to decide earlier than we’ve a gathering,” he mentioned.
O’Brien revealed that the Republican Nationwide Conference welcomed his participation however made no try to censor his info.
“We requested each conventions…the Republican Nationwide Conference bought again to us straight away. There was no try to edit any of our messages. I hoped the Democrats would do the identical, however they did not,” he mentioned.
This openness from Republicans could lead on union members to rethink conventional voting patterns.
O’Brien’s willingness to talk on the Republican Nationwide Conference has raised eyebrows within the labor group. 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 aren’t represented by Democrats.
The next is a part of the interview transcript:
Nancy Cordes: , you shared this message on the Republican conference, however some members of Teamster management did not agree with the transfer. They have been very vocal about it. It seems this additionally price you the chance to talk on the Democratic Nationwide Conference. Have the Democrats instructed you why they did not offer you 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 possibility to focus on 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. No try was made to edit any of our messages, I anticipated the Democrats to 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 at all times been Democrats, usually are not glad 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, in no way. I communicate there as a result of it highlights our significance. It evokes individuals who have forgotten who constructed this nation, company elites, and American employees.
, folks prefer 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 combat us each 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 communicate on the conference
This will likely cause them to assist Trump
he… pic.twitter.com/9WOnnjolLT
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 1, 2024
