What Really Went Down at the Teamsters

The Teamsters General Board recently voted 14-to-3 to support a position that avoids campaigning for Kamala Harris while also not endorsing Donald Trump. Despite this, several regional leaders, including Gregory Floyd and Chris Griswold, expressed their support for Harris shortly after the meeting. The board had previously met with Harris, Trump, and Robert Kennedy Jr., allowing a group of eight rank-and-file Teamsters to participate and ask questions, although their opinions did not seem to influence the board's decision. The support for Harris among some Teamster leaders may stem from her and President Biden's history of walking picket lines with union workers, as well as recent rulings from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that favor labor rights. The reinstatement of the 'joint employer' rule by Biden's appointees has made major companies like Amazon liable for labor law violations committed by their contractors, which is significant for Teamsters aiming to organize Amazon drivers. The Teamsters union has identified Amazon as a primary target for organizing efforts, and the potential for a pro-labor NLRB under Harris is seen as crucial for the union's success. In contrast, the previous Trump administration's NLRB would have likely shielded Amazon from such accountability. Interestingly, the progressive group Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) has remained silent following the board's no-endorsement decision. TDU, which has historically advocated for democratic practices within the union, has expressed concerns about O'Brien's leadership and his connections to Trump, suggesting a shift away from TDU's foundational values.