Teamsters President Sean O'Brien has expressed disappointment over not receiving an invitation to speak at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), describing it as a failure to include "one of the most powerful unions" in the United States.
In an interview with Fox Business, O'Brien, a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat, addressed the apparent snub following his historic speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) last month.
O'Brien suggested that the DNC's decision not to invite him could be related to his stance against corporate elites, including companies like Uber, Lyft, and Amazon, which he had criticized during his RNC speech. He noted that these companies are significant donor classes for both political parties.
O'Brien speculated that his outspoken criticism of corporate interests might have influenced the DNC's decision. He stated that there could be relationships within the DNC that led to his exclusion, possibly due to concerns about him exposing "corporate elitists who attack us [Teamsters] every single day."
Despite the apparent snub, O'Brien maintained that he was not upset by the situation. He emphasized that he would continue to take any opportunity to showcase the union's values and work, which was his motivation for speaking at the RNC in July.
The Teamsters president revealed that his appearance at the Republican convention was well-received by union members, with only 11% disapproving of his decision to speak there, according to an internal poll.
O'Brien addressed the Teamsters' approach to political engagement, stating that the union would no longer provide "free rides" to any political party. He emphasized that both sides seek the union's support, but they would not receive automatic backing as they might have in the past.
The Teamsters president said:
Both sides come to us asking us for support. And you know if the situation isn't right for our members, they're not going to get the free ride that they've gotten under our previous administration, or anybody else.
O'Brien disclosed that the Kamala Harris campaign had agreed to address the union's general executive board and participate in a roundtable with rank-and-file members. This engagement suggests that despite the DNC snub, the Teamsters are maintaining open lines of communication with Democratic leadership.
Regarding the Trump campaign, O'Brien mentioned that he has managed to build a rapport with the former president following a private meeting that took place two weeks before the Iowa caucuses.
When asked about Trump's recent comments during an interview with Elon Musk, where the former president referred to Musk as the "greatest cutter" while discussing employee strikes, O'Brien stated that he would respond "accordingly" to such remarks, regardless of who made them.
O'Brien took a strong stance against employers who fire workers for attempting to unionize, describing such actions as "economic terrorism." The Teamsters president reiterated his willingness to criticize both sides of the political spectrum if necessary, stating, "If the far-left want to criticize me and attack me, that's OK. If the far-right wants to do the same, that's great. I represent 1.3 million hardworking men and women."
In conclusion, Sean O'Brien's response to the DNC's apparent snub highlights the Teamsters' independent stance in political engagement. The union president's willingness to speak at both Republican and Democratic events and his criticism of corporate practices and commitment to workers' rights demonstrates the Teamsters' focus on advocating for their members' interests above party allegiances. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the Teamsters' position as a significant labor force in the United States may continue to influence political discourse and engagement strategies from both major parties.
