Per their own internal polling, the rank and file of the Teamsters Union wanted President Trump. Yet, by the end of the day, the Teamster bosses grandly announced they won’t be endorsing ANYONE for President.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate on Wednesday after releasing internal polling that showed a majority of its members supported former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris.

It’s the first time in nearly three decades that the union has not endorsed a presidential candidate.

“Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries – and to honor our members’ right to strike – but were unable to secure those pledges.”

It’s a terrific sounding statement from O’Brien, who spoke at the RNC Convention in July. It’s also amusing that the bosses decide an endorsement won’t happen, after their internal polling showed the rank and file REALLY want Trump. 

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

The entire statement reads:

and today we are delivering on that promise to our members,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “Our members are the union, and their voices and opinions must be at the forefront of everything the Teamsters do. Our final decision around a possible Presidential endorsement will not be made lightly, but you can be sure it will be driven directly by our diverse membership.” The Teamsters have not yet endorsed any candidate for U.S. President. The union’s General Executive Board expects to announce a decision on Wednesday.

Look at that polling data! The rank and file went 60% for President Trump to Kamala’s 34%. When Biden was in the race, he was up 8 points over Trump. But having 60% go for Trump during the most recent internal polling evidently wasn’t enough for the union bosses. Hence the whiny announcement about deciding not to endorse anyone for President this cycle. 

What’s even more laughable is that because President Trump didn’t get 100%, that means there was no “universal support” for his candidacy. Talk about splitting hairs! 

Different rules for different tribes. Trump needed 100% while Harris could have gotten by if she got 50.001%. She couldn't do that, which is certainly a positive.

— dcnh (@dcnh42) September 18, 2024

There’s another comical part to this, which is some of the reasoning used to decline to endorse. 

During the Teamsters Rank-and-file Presidential Roundtables, the union shared feedback from members in the railroad and airline industries 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 were forced to accept a new contract implemented by Congress without member support in 2022. In roundtable discussions with Trump in January and Harris this month, neither candidate promised not to intervene to force similar RLA contracts, which undermines workers’ bargaining leverage.

While Harris pledged, if elected, to sign the PRO Act, an essential piece of labor legislation strengthening union protections, and criticized dangerous “right to work” laws that are enacted to bankrupt unions, Trump would not commit to veto national “right to work” legislation if he returned to the White House.

So, the union got the shaft from the Biden Harris Administration in 2022, And they thought they could get a strong commitment from Kamala ‘word salad’ Harris? The person who has avoided every single task she’s been given since Joe took office in 2021? Yes, I was laughing at that, and the reaction from CNN.

The rank-and-file Teamsters know that Kamala is weak and will hurt their pocketbooks.

— General™️ (@TheGeneral_0) September 18, 2024

Further, it’s well known that California’s AB5 Act has harmed individuals all over the state. The PRO Act would do the same nationwide, yet the Teamsters rank and file went for Trump over Harris knowing he’d likely do everything possible to keep that legislation off the table. 

It's bad when over 58% of the rank and file want Trump. Those are usually Dem voters right there. It's hilarious.

— Allen (@AllenIn2112) September 18, 2024

What’s even more comical about this is how many local unions NOT tied to the Teamsters who suddenly threw their endorsements of Kamala Harris into the ring yesterday. 

West Coast Teamsters announced their endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, just minutes after national Teamsters leadership declined to issue a presidential endorsement.

~Snip

“Teamster members work and live in cities as well as in rural communities, come from diverse backgrounds, and have different views, but Joint Council 7 and 42 Teamsters refuse to be divided by extremist political forces or greedy corporations that want to see us fail,” said Teamsters Joint Council 7 President Peter Finn. “As Teamsters we will stand together to have a strong voice on the job, provide for our families, and serve the communities where we work.”

Finn is on record stating that Gavin Newsom is turning into Donald Trump because he’s rewarding his rich friends. Has he been hiding under a rock all these years?? 

Meanwhile, Sean O’Brien explained in greater detail why no endorsement is forthcoming. 

He claimed there is no disconnect between the bosses and the membership. Seems to me that the 60% who are in favor of President Trump would disagree. In my opinion, since the poll results weren’t what the bosses wanted, they decided to punt. 

Oh to be a fly on the wall with all the internal squabbling going on right now! 

Feature Photo Credit: Teamsters entrance to Washington D.C. offices via iStock, cropped and modified