American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said she was “pleased” that Teamsters President Sean O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention.
“I am personally pleased that Teamsters Chairman Sean O’Brien attended the Republican National Convention,” she posted. Social Platform X. “and [I’m] “I’m glad he’s so vocal in his criticism of corporate greed. Education was once a bipartisan issue, but Republicans decided cutting education budgets was a better strategy than helping all kids thrive.”
O’Brien was the first Teamsters chairman to speak at the Republican National Convention, and in his speech he railed against “elites” whose “loyalty is only to the balance sheet.”
“Individual workers have no power against giant multinational corporations. Only when Americans unite in democratic labor unions can we win real improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions,” O’Brien said.
During his speech, Mr O’Brien said “Labour has no chance of winning”, adding that he was at the conference because he “refuses to continue doing the same thing as our predecessors”.
Unlike most other labor unions, the Teamsters have not yet endorsed President Biden, a key voting bloc within the Democratic Party and who has cast himself as the nation’s most pro-union president.
Reuters reported on Monday The Teamsters may choose not to endorse Biden or any other candidate.
Biden made history earlier this year by walking a United Auto Workers picket line, becoming the first president to do so.
Throughout the election campaign, former President Trump and the Republican Party sought to win the support of union supporters in industrial states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, three key battleground states that could determine the election outcome.
After meeting with Teamsters leaders in January, Trump said “something strange is happening” and speculated he might win support from the union.
“Typically, Republicans don’t get that kind of support,” he said, “but not in my case. I’ve employed thousands of Teamsters, so I thought we should go out and show our respect.”
O’Brien also visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, and the Teamsters donated $45,000 to the Republican National Committee.
O’Brien was the convention’s final speaker on Monday night, thanking Trump for “opening the door” for the convention as union president.
Most labor unions do not support Trump, and Weingarten has openly criticized him since his election. Second say She has been a regular target of attacks from Republican leaders, who say Trump would “take our country backwards.”
After President Trump selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate early Monday, labor union leaders across the country criticized the selection, calling Vance a “shill” who is not “pro-labor.”
“Don’t be fooled. Behind all his slick rhetoric, J.D. Vance is a mouthpiece for the corporate class and a sell-out of working people to Corporate America. This candidate is not for workers or unions; this is a billionaire candidate through and through,” said Sarah Nelson, president of the American Association of Flight Attendants. Post to X.
