By Maria Ortiz
Sep 18, 2024, 6:58 PM EDT
The largest union in the United States, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, refused to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election, after releasing an internal poll showing a majority of its members supported former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris.
It is the first time in nearly three decades that the union has not endorsed a presidential candidate.
“Unfortunately, none of the leading candidates were able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure that the interests of workers are always put before those of big business,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brienin a statement.
“We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere with critical union campaigns or core Teamster industries, and to honor our members’ right to strike, but we were unable to secure those promises,” O’Brien said.
Earlier in the day, the union released the results of an internal poll showing nearly 60 percent of its members backed former President Donald Trump.
The decision was announced days after Harris met with Teamsters leaders and members at the union’s headquarters in Washington and amid speculation about Strong support for former President Donald Trump among the bases of organized labor.
“It’s a great honor. They’re not going to support the Democrats. That’s a big deal,” Trump said during a campaign stop in New York City on Wednesday. “The Democrats automatically have the Teamsters. They took a vote, and I guess I was at 60% or more, and that’s a great honor.”
West Coast Teamsters break with national chapter, back Harris
The West Coast Teamsters union announced its support for Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesdayjust minutes after the national leadership of the truckers refused to issue a presidential endorsement, according to Politico.
The decision is a radical break within the membership of the powerful union. in liberal states like California, where former President Donald Trump remains a deeply unpopular political figure.
Teamsters Joint Councils 7 and 42, which are made up of 39 local unions representing 300,000 members in California, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam, wrote in a statement that Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have a history of supporting expanded labor protections for workers, such as the proposed Protecting the Right to Organize Act and a Minnesota law that would prohibit employers from forcing workers to attend anti-union meetings.
With information from CNN and Politico
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