Teamsters Union Declines to Endorse Either Harris or Trump in Upcoming US Presidential Election

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a major labor union in the United States, has declined to issue a presidential endorsement in the upcoming election. This decision is a significant blow to the campaign of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, who was seeking the union's support. Teamsters President Sean M. O'Brien stated that neither Harris nor Republican candidate Donald Trump was willing to make commitments to the union on key issues affecting working people. However, some local Teamsters organizations have endorsed Harris, including Teamsters Joint Councils 7 and 42, which represent 300,000 members on the West Coast. This split decision reflects the union's internal divisions and its efforts to balance competing interests. The Teamsters' decision not to endorse a candidate is a departure from its usual practice of supporting Democratic nominees, and it marks the first time since 1996 that the union has sat out a presidential election.