'Very big deal': Ex-senator says Teamsters are defying leaders to back Harris
August 20, 2024
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters union is in an unprecedented level of turmoil as much of its membership base revolts against their leadership's decision to stay neutral in the presidential race, said former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) on MSNBC.
It culminated in many members taking the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris themselves.
Teamsters president Sean O'Brien continues to face outrage over his decision to speak at the Republican National Convention — an act he continues to insist is not an endorsement of former President Donald Trump, but simply an effort to take a pro-worker message to a place it doesn't usually get heard — and as the union's VP-at-large prepares to challenge O'Brien for leadership in the next round of union elections.
"You just said, that's the Teamsters uh-oh," anchor Joy Reid said to MsCaskill.
"I mean, I think that their president, he spoke at the Republican National Convention, and all hell broke loose in his union," said McCaskill, noting that huge blocs of the union, including Black members, are breaking off to back Harris.
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"They are the only union out there that is still supporting — well, they're not supporting Trump, but they're not supporting Harris, right? And for most union members in this country, that's really hard to figure out what they're doing. And the fact that these guys all came on stage without their union formally endorsing Harris tells you a lot about some dissension in the Teamsters."
Reid agreed. "It's a very big deal," she said, especially considering "the very stark difference between the economic policies that both of these candidates are promoting."
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