The Teamsters Decline to Endorse a Presidential Candidate Ahead of Election
With just weeks left before the Nov. 5 election, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters made a surprising announcement – they would not be endorsing either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president. The union, representing 1.3 million members, cited a lack of sufficient support for either candidate.
Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien explained the decision, stating, “Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business.” The union had sought commitments from both candidates not to interfere in union campaigns or industries, but those pledges were not forthcoming.
Vice President Harris had courted organized labor and emphasized support for the middle class, while Trump also engaged with Teamsters and even invited O’Brien to speak at the Republican National Convention. Despite these efforts, internal polling showed Trump had an advantage over Harris among Teamster members.
The Teamsters’ decision not to endorse so close to the election stood in contrast to other unions like the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, who had already backed Harris. The union detailed specific objections to the candidates, such as their handling of a contract in the railroad sector and the use of the Railway Labor Act in resolving disputes.
Harris had promised to sign the PRO Act, supported by the Teamsters, which would strengthen union protections. On the other hand, Trump did not commit to opposing measures making it harder to unionize nationwide. The union’s choice to remain neutral indicated some skepticism towards the Biden-Harris administration, despite recent legislation benefiting union retirees.
One significant measure included in pandemic aid was the Butch Lewis Act, which saved the pensions of over 1 million union workers and retirees, including many Teamsters. Named after a retired Ohio trucker and union leader, the act prevented drastic cuts to the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund.
