Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
A Teamsters Boss Delivers Rare Speech to RNC
d8a347b41db1ddee634e2d67d08798c102ef09ac
By The New York Times
Published 9 months ago on
July 16, 2024

Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, speaks on the first night of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, July 15, 2024. Labor leaders are uncommon sights at Republican conventions, and Sean O’Brien used his moment to lace into corporate America. But he also praised former President Donald Trump. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Sean O’Brien closed the first night of the Republican National Convention with an address that was decidedly not the usual Republican fare, which he called attention to by telling the crowd in Milwaukee that he was the first president of the Teamsters union to address such a gathering.

O’Brien Acknowledges His Presence at RNC Roiled His Union

O’Brien acknowledged at the outset that his presence had roiled his union, angered many on the left and sparked protests from anti-union voices on the right. He had asked for invitations to address the conventions of both parties, and he has not yet received a response from the Democrats, who gather next month.

His praise of former President Donald Trump — “In light of what happened to him on Saturday, he has proven to be one tough SOB,” O’Brien said — will not sit well with some leaders of his 1.3 million-member union. Nor will his praise for some other Republicans, including Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York.

But the Teamsters leader also laced into corporate America for having what he called no allegiance to the United States. He lamented that “Americans vote for a union but can’t get a union contract,” and he mourned workers who are fired for labor organizing.

“That is economic terrorism at its worst,” O’Brien said — rhetoric not usually heard in the halls of a Republican convention.

Audience Turned From Cheer to Silence

At first O’Brien’s remarks were well-received, particularly as he talked about the criticism he would receive from Democrats for speaking at the convention. But as he continued to speak, the audience fell largely quiet, a marked contrast to the enthusiastic applause and cheers for other speakers.

A few moments that were clearly intended as applause lines were greeted with just a few claps or outright silence. And as the speech went on, some in the auditorium turned away from O’Brien to look instead at Trump, who was seated on a riser toward the back of the room.

Many in organized labor say Trump was no friend of labor as president, while President Joe Biden has done pretty much all the unions have asked for, including signing into law a more than $30 billion bailout for the Teamsters’ embattled pension fund.

One rank-and-file Teamster responded to the address on social media: “A true Teamster Leader would not be at the Republican National Convention under any circumstances,” wrote Keith Gleason, a Chicago member. “Biden helped save our pensions, not Trump.”

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Jonathan Weisman/Kenny Holston
c.2024 The New York Times Company

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

DON'T MISS

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

DON'T MISS

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

DON'T MISS

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

DON'T MISS

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

DON'T MISS

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

DON'T MISS

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

DON'T MISS

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

UP NEXT

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

UP NEXT

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

UP NEXT

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

UP NEXT

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

UP NEXT

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

UP NEXT

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

UP NEXT

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

UP NEXT

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

UP NEXT

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

UP NEXT

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

11 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

12 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

15 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

15 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

15 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

15 hours ago

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

15 hours ago

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

16 hours ago

Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants

16 hours ago

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

16 hours ago

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

President Donald Trump said Saturday that Russia’s escalating bombardment of Ukraine had left him concerned that Russia did not want to end ...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

10 hours ago

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

10 hours ago

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

11 hours ago

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

12 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

15 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

15 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

15 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend