International Union complains about strong political divisions and low commitments of candidates

(WASHINGTON) — The board of directors of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters decided Wednesday not to support any candidate for U.S. president.

After evaluating six months of national member polls and completing nearly a year of conversations with rank-and-file members of all major presidential candidates, the union was unable to obtain commitments from either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris on the Teamsters’ most important issues—nor was it able to determine clear member support for either party’s candidate.

Data released earlier in the day showed President Joe Biden winning the support of Teamsters who voted in local union polls between April and July before he dropped out of the race. However, in independent electronic and telephone polls from July to September, a majority of voting members twice chose Trump as a possible endorsement for the Teamsters, rather than Harris.

The union’s extensive member surveys showed that there is no majority support for Vice President Harris and no general support for President Trump among members.

“The Teamsters thank all candidates for meeting face-to-face with members during our unprecedented roundtables. Unfortunately, neither of the two major candidates was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure that the interests of working people are always put before those of big business. We have demanded commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in key union campaigns or core Teamsters industries – and to respect our members’ right to strike – but have not been able to achieve those commitments,” said Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien.

“Our mission as union representatives is clear: honesty and openness, inclusivity and, above all, transparency with our members. As the strongest and most democratic union in America, it has been critical for our members to drive this endorsement process. Democrats, Republicans and Independents proudly call our union home, and we have a duty to represent and respect each and every one of them. We strongly encourage all of our members to vote in the upcoming election and continue to participate in the political process. But this year, no presidential candidate has received the endorsement of the Teamsters’ International Union.”

During the presidential Teamsters roundtables, the union shared feedback from railroad and airline members who work under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and are at the mercy of government intervention that often prevents work stoppages. While 10,000 Teamsters at United Airlines are currently negotiating a new agreement, tens of thousands of railroad Teamsters have been forced to accept a new contract implemented by Congress without member support in 2022. At roundtables with Trump in January and Harris this month, neither candidate promised not to intervene to force similar RLA contracts, undermining workers’ bargaining power.

Harris pledged to sign the PRO Act, a key labor bill to strengthen union protections, if elected, and criticized dangerous “right to work” laws that are being passed to bankrupt unions. Trump, on the other hand, would not commit to vetoing national “right to work” laws if he returns to the White House.

“Right-to-work laws exist only to destroy unions,” said Fred Zuckerman, general secretary and treasurer of the Teamsters. “It is a red line for the Teamsters and must be for every union when a candidate for elected office does not oppose such anti-worker laws. It is too important an issue for the entire labor movement to be left to state legislatures.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit Teamster.org. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.