The chief of one in all The usa’s biggest labor unions — a union which has no longer backed a Republican for president considering that 1988 — is suggesting his staff’s endorsement remains to be very a lot on the desk.
Showing on CBS’ Face the Nation Sunday, Sean O’Brien — president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — refused to commit to endorsing both Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump. Moderator Nancy Cordes quizzed O’Brien concerning the lack of endorsement to this point — while noting that the other 9 greatest unions in America are all backing Harris.
“Our union is so much completely different than most unions,” O’Brien replied. “We signify 1.3 million participants. 1/2 of our participants are Republicans, 1/2 of our participants are Democrats. So we have to serve all of our membership equally.”
Nonetheless, historically, an endorsement of a Republican — though now not remarkable — is uncommon for the Teamsters. The staff has recommended exclusively Democrats dating back to 1988, when it threw its reinforce behind George H.W. Bush. The Teamsters did, on the other hand, now not advise either candidate in the 1996 election.
O’Brien stated there can be no Teamsters endorsement of Harris except union leadership has an opportunity to fulfill together with her. The vice president’s marketing campaign says it is working with the union to return together on a date for a sit down.
“You don’t hire someone except you give them an interview,” O’Brien said. “And , that is our possibility to ask her about Teamster particular concerns and also labor issues. So until we now have that assembly, you already know, clearly we will be able to wait to make that decision.”
Later in the CBS interview, Cordes confronted O’Brien about the truth that he was invited to speak on the Republican Nationwide Conference in July, however now not the Democratic Nationwide Conference in August. O’Brien, in response, hinted at some lingering resentment amongst his membership.
“Whenever I get a possibility to focus on the American employee, particularly the Teamster employee, I’m going to take any and all venue,” O’Brien stated. “We requested each conventions, respectively, at the same time, and the Republican National Conference straight away answered to us. Didn’t attempt to edit any of our messages, and I was hopeful that the Democrats would do the same, however they didn’t. I’m no longer upset about it, but I will be able to tell you this, my rank and file members, who’ve been lifelong Democrats, are usually not chuffed about it.”
Watch above, by means of CBS.
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