Washington DC: Ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a major American labour union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has announced it will not endorse either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump for the first time since 1996.
The decision highlights a deep division within the labour movement, reflecting dissatisfaction with both candidates on issues critical to workers, such as job security, wages, and labour rights.
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien, who has been vocal about holding both candidates accountable on key labour issues, said the union’s decision reflects a commitment to putting workers’ priorities first. O’Brien emphasized that the union would continue to evaluate each candidate’s stance on Teamsters’ concerns before considering any further endorsements.
The union with 1.3 million members across the U.S. and Canada has declined to endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, citing ‘few commitments’ from both on key Teamsters issues. Despite internal polls showing strong support for Trump, overall membership remains divided. The decision is a setback for Harris, as she seeks to win over working-class voters with less than 50 days until the election. They have also conducted a Polling between the members to learn whom they support more.
TEAMSTERS RELEASE PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT POLLING DATA
“For the past year, the Teamsters Union has pledged to conduct the most inclusive, democratic, and transparent Presidential endorsement process in the history of our 121-year-old organization—and today we are delivering on… pic.twitter.com/CnFNN9uosx
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) September 18, 2024
This neutrality signals a shift in the political landscape, where labour unions are reconsidering their traditional alliances. By withholding an endorsement, the union is signalling that neither candidate has adequately addressed its concerns regarding workers’ rights, living wages, and union protections. The move also highlights a broader uncertainty within labour circles about which candidate truly represents their interests.
Following the union’s announcement, several Teamsters regional councils, representing over half a million members in key states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and California, endorsed Kamala Harris. Her campaign emphasized broad backing from “the overwhelming majority of organized labour” and highlighted support from many Teamsters locals.
The labour union has not ruled out endorsing a candidate at a later stage but has emphasized that it will continue to evaluate each campaign’s policies on labour and economic issues before making any decision.
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