Teamsters Withhold Endorsement of Harris or Trump for Election \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a powerful labor union, declined to endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. The union cited both candidates’ failure to make strong commitments to protect workers’ rights and avoid interference in union activities. This decision reflects a division within the 1.3 million-member union, with some members favoring Trump despite his anti-union stance.
Teamsters Refuse Presidential Endorsement: Quick Looks
- No endorsement: The Teamsters declined to support either Harris or Trump, citing inadequate commitments to union interests.
- Union’s concerns: Both candidates failed to pledge support for key labor issues, such as striking rights and avoiding intervention in union matters.
- Union polling: Internal polling showed Trump with more support from rank-and-file members, even though the union leadership did not endorse him.
- Previous endorsements: Other major unions, like the AFL-CIO and United Auto Workers, have endorsed Harris.
Deep Look
In a significant move, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced Wednesday that it would not endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The decision underscores the union’s dissatisfaction with both major candidates’ lack of commitment to critical labor issues and reflects the union’s internal division on political identity and policy priorities.
Union President Sean M. O’Brien released a statement detailing the reasons behind the decision. “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,” O’Brien explained. The union had sought specific commitments from both Harris and Trump, including non-interference in key union campaigns and protections for workers’ right to strike. Neither candidate, however, provided satisfactory pledges.
A Divided Union in a Polarized Political Landscape
The Teamsters’ refusal to endorse a candidate highlights the ongoing divide within labor unions across the country. While Vice President Harris has been a staunch supporter of organized labor throughout her career, Trump has found support among certain blue-collar workers despite his historically anti-union rhetoric. This division is evident in the Teamsters, where polling shows Trump with an advantage over Harris among union members, despite Trump’s hostility toward unions in the past.
This internal split reflects a broader national divide in which economic concerns often intersect with other political issues. “For many workers, issues such as gun control, abortion, and border security override Trump’s hostility toward unions,” noted Marick Masters, a labor expert at Wayne State University. These issues have allowed Trump to make inroads with traditionally Democratic voters, despite his contentious relationship with organized labor.
Tensions Over Policy and Union Rights
In its decision, the Teamsters criticized both Harris and Trump for their stance on certain labor-related policies. The union pointed to a 2022 contract imposed by Congress on railroad workers as a significant sticking point. The Teamsters had hoped to secure a commitment from both candidates that they would not use the Railway Labor Act to resolve contract disputes in a way that weakened union bargaining power. However, both Harris and Trump left the option open, sparking further dissatisfaction within the union.
On the other hand, Harris has supported legislation like the PRO Act, which strengthens union protections. She has also been critical of “right-to-work” laws that make it more difficult for workers to unionize. Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for Harris’s campaign, emphasized Harris’s long-standing support for labor: “Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career.” Hitt also highlighted the administration’s passage of the Butch Lewis Act in 2021, which saved the pensions of millions of union workers, including many Teamsters.
Despite Harris’s labor-friendly policies, the union leadership was not swayed, with O’Brien facing backlash after speaking at the Republican National Convention and many members still expressing support for Trump. Trump’s public endorsement of business figures like Elon Musk, who has fired workers for organizing strikes, made a full endorsement from the Teamsters unlikely, according to Art Wheaton, a labor studies director at Cornell University.
Political Fallout of No Endorsement
By not endorsing a candidate, the Teamsters are opting out of a powerful political tool just weeks before the November election. Major unions like the AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers, and the American Federation of Teachers have already thrown their support behind Harris, offering financial and logistical backing to her campaign.
While the Teamsters’ decision could reduce the union’s political influence, it also underscores the challenges facing labor organizations in an increasingly polarized political environment. The union’s split over Trump reflects broader national trends, where working-class voters are often drawn to Trump’s populist messaging, even as he attacks the very unions that represent them.
This lack of endorsement also signals indifference toward the Biden-Harris administration, despite their role in passing the Butch Lewis Act, which provided billions in relief for underfunded pensions, benefiting more than 1 million union retirees. The act, named after a former Teamsters leader, was seen as a major victory for organized labor, yet it was not enough to secure the union’s endorsement of Harris for president.
In contrast, Trump has made overtures to union members, even meeting with Teamsters leaders earlier this year and inviting O’Brien to speak at the Republican National Convention. Trump’s campaign seized on the union’s internal polling, sending out an email that claimed “the rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for President.”
Uncertain Future for Union Support
The Teamsters’ decision leaves the future of its political involvement in this election cycle uncertain. As a major force with 1.3 million members, the union’s backing—or lack thereof—could have significant implications for both candidates. While Harris retains strong support from other unions, the refusal of the Teamsters to endorse her could hurt her standing among key working-class voters.
On the other hand, Trump’s anti-union rhetoric makes him a divisive figure even among Teamsters members who support his broader policy positions. The union’s internal conflict over which issues take priority—labor rights or social policies—reflects the broader challenges facing the labor movement in 2024.
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