Teamsters' Black caucus defies leadership with Harris endorsement
Source: Politico
08/13/2024 06:50 PM EDT
Vice President Kamala Harris has won the endorsement of the National Black Caucus of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters even as the larger union withholds its endorsement. Caucus members voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse Harris at a conference in Las Vegas. Publicly backing Harris risks pushback in a union with a history of retaliation.
The caucus, known as TNBC, praised Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for their unwavering commitment to workers and their families in a statement released after the vote. Their records reflect a deep dedication to advancing labor rights and supporting working-class Americans, it said. Labor organizations rushed to support Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. But the Teamsters have been a notable hold out.
President Sean OBrien said the union plans to endorse a presidential candidate after both conventions and has invited all the candidates to sit for interviews. Harris, who was invited last month when she became the presidential candidate, has not yet had her interview.
TNBC Chair James Curbeam said in the statement that the caucus based its decision on former President Donald Trumps actions over both his career in politics and business. When people show you who they are, believe them and Trump showed us for 40 years who he really is: someone who is not for us, Curbeam said. Endorsing a candidate with his history would be a betrayal of the values that we have fought to uphold.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/13/teamsters-black-caucus-harris-endorsement-00173911

Joinfortmill
(19,256 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(16,233 posts)of rank and file Teamsters support the Harris/Walz ticket and will vote accordingly despite who the union endorses.
Zoomie1986
(1,213 posts)I've worked in union shops, and every single one of them had the leadership supporting a Democratic candidate while 1/3 or more of the workers supported the anti-American candidate.
Confusing union leadership with the workers is a mistake Democrats often make. Unions aren't the Borg. They don't have the same hive mind. Also remember this: union members have a long and ugly history of being racist and anti-immigrant. The unions themselves aren't that way, but I can assure you that their members can be...and often are.
More importantly, the leadership doesn't cast the votes of their members; the workers do. Forgetting that has hurt Democrats over and over again.
MarineCombatEngineer
(16,233 posts)I think you'll be pleasantly surprised this year, no other presidential candidate in modern history has been this open about being a racist woman hating Hitler type tyrant or as bat shit crazy as Been A Dick Donald, and with Vance and the MAGAts' constantly trying to swift boat Gov. Walz's military service, it's a good bet that the vets in these Unions are going to overwhelmingly vote for the Harris/Walz ticket.
I may be wrong, I don't think so, but if I am wrong come Nov., I'll personally admit I was wrong right here on this board.
Fair enough?
skylucy
(3,991 posts)take over as the Teamsters President. Good for the Teamsters Black Caucus!
wolfie001
(6,325 posts)Racists and "I got mine" attitudes. I saw it in my Union store as a UFCW worker. Some stupid, some lazy and some racist. Most of the rest of us were cool.
Remember this? Downtown Manhattan and some of these workers were at the World Trade Center construction site. Got ya freeper! 👍
Roy Rolling
(7,330 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 14, 2024, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)
Like Trumpsters, Teamster leaders are always looking for the camera to act out.
wolfie001
(6,325 posts)They should be behind Kamala 100%. That's what my post was meant to express.
ColinC
(11,098 posts)Demobrat
(10,223 posts)Endorsing a candidate with his history would be a betrayal of the values that we have fought to uphold.
Pretty much speaks for the whole damn country, or should.
krkaufman
(13,957 posts)Honestly, even delaying an endorsement is a betrayal, as though its a close call.
LiberalFighter
(53,544 posts)Seriously doubt Sean OBrien is being honest.
Trump has demonstrated he doesn't support labor unions or the working people.
While Trump has weakened the power of agencies intended to protect the rights of union members and workers Biden appointed people to help protect them.
rpannier
(24,786 posts)Probably a holdover from when most organizations waited until after the conventions
Until 1972, there really weren't many primaries
They probably stayed out of it to avoid publicly endorsing the non-winner of the convention
barbtries
(30,853 posts)makes me shake my head.
let alone the guy who was just on twitter yesterday congratulating megalomaniac Musk for busting a union.
BumRushDaShow
(162,003 posts)Many of the police unions have in the past (FOP, IUPA, PBA), although in many cases, their memberships and some Locals protested their national's support of GOP loons.
Clouds Passing
(6,224 posts)OBrien told NBC 10 Boston that, as of Tuesday, he has not received an invitation to speak from the Democrats.
Shouldnt that line say
invitation to speak at the Democratic Convention?
BumRushDaShow
(162,003 posts)outlined here of him agreeing "100%" with the cowardly white supremacist loon Josh Heehawley - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143273995
Link to tweet
@TeamsterSOB
·
Follow
.@HawleyMO is 100% on point.
compactmag.com
The Promise of Pro-Labor Conservatism
Teamsters President Sean OBriens speech came as something of a shock at the Republican National Convention Monday night.
11:26 AM · Jul 16, 2024
Where in that article, Hawley wrote -
with the rest of the crap article here - https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-promise-of-pro-labor-conservatism/
and then the pushback - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143275934
Link to tweet
@GrimKim
·
Follow
The rogue Teamsters social media manager is a real one, holy shit
Screenshot from the official teamsters twitter criticizing President OBrien for supporting Hawleys disgusting bigotry
3:00 AM · Jul 17, 2024

he'll be waiting a LONG LONG time.

Clouds Passing
(6,224 posts)Thank you for posting this!