Teamsters' Leader Misses the Mark

The leader of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sean O'Brien, has been making waves in the political world lately. Instead of endorsing a presidential candidate, he shockingly announced that the union would not support any candidate from either major party. This decision has left many scratching their heads, especially considering the stark differences between the Democratic and Republican nominees on labor issues. O'Brien, a local guy from Massachusetts, grew up in Medford and started his union career running Local 25 in Charlestown. Despite being a Democrat, he has been playing footsie with the Republicans, even speaking at their national convention. His team's decision not to endorse a candidate has been met with criticism from both sides, with former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa Jr. calling it a "failure of leadership. " The reason behind this non-endorsement is puzzling, especially given the clear differences between the candidates. Trump has openly championed anti-labor legislation and has supported companies that threaten to fire union workers who want to strike. On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris has been a strong advocate for labor rights and has walked the picket line in support of striking autoworkers. O'Brien has claimed that the rank-and-file workers he represents don't support Harris, citing two polls that show majorities of Teamster members prefer Trump over Harris. However, this excuse doesn't hold water, especially since the union has failed to effectively communicate its priorities to its members. The Teamsters' decision not to endorse a candidate has been met with criticism from other labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, which has enthusiastically endorsed Harris. Some Teamsters locals are taking matters into their own hands, voting to support the Harris-Walz ticket. With six weeks to go until Election Day, this campaign appears to be deadlocked, with key battlegrounds in organized labor territory. The Teamsters' decision to sit on the sidelines and pout has been a missed opportunity to make a significant impact on the election.