At Monday night’s Republican National Convention, Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, gave a spectacular address during prime time. This must have confused some veteran Republicans. He referred to Trump’s time in office as a “tough S.O.B.”
Although O’Brien did not officially support Trump, he played up the irony of speaking at the party convention while actively opposing workers’ rights to organize. Later this year, the union may hold a vote to support a particular candidate.
The Teamsters had supported Republican presidents Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush in the past, according to O’Brien, who added, “If the extremes in both parties think I shouldn’t be on this stage,” then the union must be doing something right. The Teamsters may not support a candidate this year, despite Biden’s portrayal as the most labor-friendly president in US history. In 2023, when Biden showed up with striking auto workers in Michigan, he became the first president to walk a picket line.
No matter what letter you have next to your name—”D,” “R,” or “I”—the Teamsters will not care in the end. Specifically, O’Brien wanted to know one thing. “What steps are you taking to support employed Americans?”
While O’Brien has not received an invitation to the Democratic convention as of yet, he informed AWN’s Dana Bash during his appearance on “Inside Politics” on Tuesday that he would speak at both conventions.
“No amount of partisanship is going to help. During his remarks, O’Brien emphasized the need of having support from both parties and working together, promising to deliver a speech at the Democratic convention.
This comes after Biden rescued a pension fund for Teamsters.
Considering that Biden, when president in 2022, approved a one-time bailout of a Teamsters pension fund for $36 billion, protecting 350,000 workers’ and retirees’ pensions from cuts, Biden must be especially irritated by O’Brien’s speech. Despite the fact that Biden has the support of influential labor groups like the AFL-CIO, many labor leaders are becoming increasingly worried about his chances of winning in November.
O’Brien did not refute Bash’s assertion that Trump has a lengthy history of opposing union rights.
“How can we change people’s opinions if we don’t have the discussions?” he said.
Although most Republicans are against unions, JD Vance actually joined a picket line.
O’Brien stated Monday night that the anti-union stance of the majority of Republicans must be changed. That might not happen right away. On the same day, the Wall Street Journal stated that Trump’s pro-Trump super PAC will be receiving $45 million in funding per month from anti-union Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Sen. JD Vance, who will be campaigning alongside Trump, is one of several Republican senators who have taken to picketing in recent years, as O’Brien pointed out. While the Teamsters and other labor organizations support the Democrats’ plan to enact a nationwide bill, Vance and other Republican senators are opposed to it.
Musk was particularly pleased with Vance’s appointment because of his extensive experience as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley.
An anti-union legacy for Trump, but a message against corporations aimed at employees
The opening night of the Republican convention, which was supposed to center on Make America Wealthy Again, was dominated by anti-corporate and anti-elitist sentiments, with repeated references to assisting workers serving as an overarching theme. That fits nicely with Trump’s strategy of appealing to the downtrodden and abandoned.
According to AWN’s Chris Isidore, Trump’s anti-union record as president contradicts his lifelong pro-worker rhetoric.
From a policy perspective, the assistance that Republicans offered Monday to RNC employees was indirect. Democrats have long advocated for a minimum wage increase, but they are not on board with this. Conversely, Trump is proposing a policy change that would exclude tipping from income taxes. If an employee receives tips, many states permit employers to pay them less than the minimum wage in that state.
In order to aid the car industry, Trump and Vance want to repeal the Democrats’ emissions targets, which would shift the United States’ focus to electric vehicles. Among the unions that have endorsed Biden is the United Auto Workers.
Significant changes occur at the margins
Biden could be in for a disastrous 2020 campaign if union families start voting for Trump, as she did better than Clinton in 2016 in this demographic nationwide and in crucial areas. The outcome of the election could still hinge on small changes in the electorate.
There is an outspoken side to O’Brien. He gained notoriety after he and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican and former professional mixed martial arts fighter, almost got into a fistfight.
O’Brien made a passing reference to that incident when he quoted Senator Mullin, saying, “‘It’s time for both sides of Congress to stand their butts up.'” Prioritizing American workers in trade policy is essential. Making it simpler for businesses to stay in the US is essential. Legislation should be enacted to ensure that workers are better protected while obtaining contracts.
