The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has opted not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, making it the only major union among the top ten in the U.S. to withhold its backing from Vice President Kamala Harris. In a statement, the union highlighted a lack of firm commitments from both former President Donald Trump and Harris on pivotal Teamsters issues, stating there was no clear support among its members for either candidate.
The Teamsters union, which has 1.3 million members, including many in transportation and public works, noted that after their national executive board’s announcement, several joint councils representing active and retired Teamsters in swing states such as Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin expressed their support for Harris.
Bill Carroll, President of Teamsters Joint Council 39 in Wisconsin, praised Harris for collaborating with unions to advance the Butch Lewis Act, which has protected the pensions of over a million retirees. He stated that in November, they would unite with union workers nationwide to defeat Trump.
Historically, the Teamsters have endorsed Democratic candidates since 1996, but the last endorsement of a Republican was for George H.W. Bush in 1988. Teamsters president Sean O’Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention this year, signaling a shift from the organization’s traditional support.
The union’s decision was influenced by perceived deficiencies in Harris’s and Trump’s commitments to not interfere in vital union matters and safeguard workers’ right to strike. O’Brien noted that neither candidate promised to avoid government interference in strikes affecting rail or airline industries.
While the Teamsters mentioned Harris’s vow to sign the PRO Act—which would enhance union organizing rights—Trump did not commit to rejecting “right to work” laws during his potential second term.
O’Brien implemented a roundtable discussion format for the 2024 endorsement process, where he met with candidates from both parties, including Harris, who succeeded Biden as the Democratic nominee. He emphasized the importance of addressing Teamsters-specific issues and legislation.
Polling before Biden exited the race showed a slight majority of Teamsters preferred him over Trump. However, subsequent surveys indicated that more members favored Trump over Harris by significant margins.
In response to the Teamsters’ decision, Harris’s spokesperson highlighted her engagement with labor, referencing her past support during labor disputes. Some Teamsters members expressed varied opinions on the candidates, focusing on labor support rather than party affiliation.
O’Brien reiterated that the voices of union members are paramount in decision-making. While the national board did not endorse Harris, factions like the Teamsters’ National Black Caucus have publicly supported her, raising questions about the representativeness of the board’s polling process.
The lack of a formal endorsement from the Teamsters could impact key states with strong union presence in the upcoming election. O’Brien’s speech at the Republican National Convention suggested a desire for bipartisan collaboration, emphasizing independence from both major parties in advocating for workers’ rights.