Staff Reports
In a meeting on Tuesday, President Joe Biden tried to win over the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the unions that has yet to endorse him. This meeting, held in hopes of securing their endorsement, comes after the Teamsters made waves earlier this year by donating $45,000 to the Republican National Committee, their first donation to the RNC in two decades. The union also met with former President Donald Trump, who has been actively seeking support from union members even though their leadership does not endorse him.
Despite Biden’s claims that he is the most pro-union president in history, the Teamsters remain unconvinced. The President’s campaign noted that he already has the support of several other unions, and they hope to earn the Teamsters’ endorsement as well. With 1.3 million members working in transportation for companies like UPS, the Teamsters hold significant influence.
But the union’s recent actions have raised questions about where their support will ultimately lie. Both Biden and Trump have made efforts to appeal to the Teamsters, with Trump touting the positive impact he claims to have had on union members during his time in office. Even though Biden has received significant financial backing from labor organizations, the Teamsters’ endorsement remains up for grabs.
While Biden has a history with the Teamsters and labor organizations, the potential endorsement of Trump by the union represents a departure from their usual support for Democratic candidates. The current political climate has created uncertainty, with labor experts suggesting that there is a possibility the union may endorse Trump, despite their historical pattern of endorsing Democratic candidates.
The upcoming union votes will be closely monitored, with both Biden and Trump vying for the support of union members in key battleground states. As the President seeks to retain these critical states, the Teamsters’ endorsement could play a pivotal role in influencing the outcome of the upcoming election.
