Deleted post said, \u2018unions gain nothing from endorsing the racist, misogynistic, and anti-trans politics of the far right\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Teamsters\u2019 social media account attacked its own president on Wednesday, saying \u201cunions gain nothing from endorsing the racist, misogynistic, and anti-trans politics of the far right,\u201d two days after Sean O\u2019Brien addressed the Republican national convention in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O\u2019Brien spoke at the convention on Monday night in Milwaukee, becoming the first leader of the union to appear at the convention in the union\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O\u2019Brien\u2019s meeting with Donald Trump and his convention appearance have angered some Teamsters and others in the labor movement. Joe Biden has touted\u2002<\/a>himself as the most pro-labor president in American history; Trump, in contrast, has been heavily criticized by unions for his administration\u2019s anti-labor record<\/a>. Anti-union groups<\/a> have also criticized<\/a> O\u2019Brien\u2019s appearance at the convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The union is facing a backlash from members and progressive groups over O\u2019Brien\u2019s appearance and the union\u2019s consideration of abstaining from making an endorsement in the 2024 presidential election, including from the union\u2019s social media manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a now deleted tweet, the Teamsters posted a response to O\u2019Brien retweeting an op-ed by the Republican senator Josh Hawley, in which O\u2019Brien wrote: \u201cHawley is 100% on point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deleted social media post\u2002<\/a>said: \u201cUnions gain nothing from endorsing the racist, misogynistic, and anti-trans politics of the far right, no matter how much people like Sen Hawley attempt to tether such bigotry to a cynical pro-labor message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe message this sends to Teamsters of color, Teamster women, and LGBTQ Teamsters is that they are not welcome in the union unless they surrender their identity to a new kind of anti-woke unionism. You don\u2019t unite a diverse working class by scoffing at its diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe message is clear \u2013 it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent \u2013 the working class in America must be respected,\u201d the Teamsters said in a post<\/a> promoting O\u2019Brien\u2019s appearance at the convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n O\u2019Brien became president of the Teamsters in March 2022, after winning an election on being more aggressive in contract negotiations with UPS and new organizing efforts. The win came after James Hoffa, the son of Jimmy, had led the union the previous two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, in contract negotiations with UPS, O\u2019Brien took a hardline approach, threatening to strike before reaching a deal ahead of the contract expiration. He also made headlines\u2002<\/a>over arguments during appearances at Senate hearings with Republican senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his speech at the RNC convention, O\u2019Brien emphasized bipartisanship while criticizing systemic corruption and corporations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m here today. Because I refuse to keep doing the same things my predecessors did. Today the Teamsters are here to say we are not beholden to anyone or any party,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cWe will create an agenda and work with a bipartisan coalition, ready to accomplish something real for the American worker.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahead of the convention appearance, the Teamsters have\u2002noted<\/a> they are considering making no endorsement in the 2024 presidential election. The union has endorsed Democratic presidential nominees, including Biden in 2020, since making a non-endorsement during Bill Clinton\u2019s re-election in 1996. The Teamsters endorsed<\/a> Bill Clinton in 1992, but endorsed\u2002<\/a>George Bush Sr in 1988 and Ronald Reagan\u2002<\/a>in 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s certainly a possibility on O\u2019Brien\u2019s part. I\u2019m not sure what the rest of the board would do,\u201d said John Palmer, vice-president-at-large at Teamsters International. \u201cI certainly will endorse whatever Democratic candidate emerges. I don\u2019t know how many of the rest of the board would stand against O\u2019Brien if he pushed a no endorsement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n O\u2019Brien rejected criticism of his appearance at the convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said: \u201cI don\u2019t care about getting criticized. Its an honor to be the first Teamster in our 121-year history to address the Republican national convention. Think about this. The Teamsters are doing something correct if the extremes in both parties think I shouldn\u2019t be on this stage,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe Teamsters are not interested if you have a D, R, or I next to your name. We want to know one thing: what are you doing to help American workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Teamsters members did not feel the same way, criticizing O\u2019Brien\u2019s appearance for providing support and publicity for politicians who have fought against workers\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n