Socialists and the Teamster leadership: A contribution to the discussion

On January 3, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) President Sean O’Brien met with Donald Trump at Mar-a- Lago. A few weeks later, Trump participated in an interview for presidential contenders at the union’s headquarters. Finally, among a host of donations to Democrats, the Teamsters donated $45,000 to the Republican National Committee. These events have sparked a lively discussion on the labor left.

For example, on this site, former Teamster and long time socialist Joe Allen published a piece. Another respected socialist author and former IBT member Dan LaBotz wrote a similar article for New Politics. (In addition to all of their other credentials, Joe and Dan are also good friends of mine!) They were both highly critical of O’Brien and of the course of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) caucus. Joe and Dan saw the dealings between the Teamsters and Trump as a substantial vindication of their previous critique of O’Brien and the TDU. Their articles reflect a viewpoint common on the labor left.

The purpose of this article is to argue for a very different perspective. The essential argument will be that nothing has taken place that would lead socialists to change their general support of the O’Brien leadership and their endorsement of the orientation of Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

The socialist view of labor politics

To begin at the beginning, socialists oppose any union endorsement of any Democratic or Republican candidate, at any time, for any position, for any reason. This is our unequivocal position. This is because both the Democratic and Republican parties are fundamental, intrinsic components of the US ruling class. Working class independence from the ruling class is the bedrock of our entire political outlook. Hence our across-the-board opposition to labor endorsements or contributions to the Democrats or Republicans.

However, socialists have to face an unpleasant reality. We are a tiny minority inside the labor movement on this issue. Not a single international union and virtually no local ones agree with us on this point. The idea that labor can advance by working with mainstream political parties is pervasive in the union movement today. Even the most militant unions such as the United Electrical workers and the Chicago Teachers Union have this perspective.

This does not mean that socialists should capitulate to this sentiment for one minute. We should vigorously argue for class independence and for a labor party. But it does mean that we should recognize that we are working in a labor movement where most activists disagree with us. It would be better if it wasn’t that way, but it’s where things stand today.

From this perspective, socialists should oppose any dalliance between the Teamsters and Trump—just as we should oppose the union’s probable endorsement of Biden this fall. At the same time, we understand that, sadly, support for capitalist candidates is standard operating procedure in today’s labor movement. We can still vote for in union elections and collaborate with trade unionists who have a different viewpoint from us on this issue. In fact, we do it every day.

Biden, Trump, and O’Brien

So the question now becomes, has anything happened in Sean O’Brien’s dealing with the Republicans that is so unusual or heinous that it would invalidate the overall perspective that I have outlined? To answer that question we need to look carefully at what has actually happened, as there’s a fair amount of misunderstanding in the movement about this.

One, the Teamsters have not endorsed Trump. Trump participated in the same hearing process with the same ground rules as all other presidential candidates did. The hearing process is to give the International Executive Board and a rank and file panel the chance to interview all candidates who wish to gain the union’s endorsement. The final decision on who to endorse will not be made for some time. A number of other contenders have already participated in this process, including independent left candidate Cornel West. On March 12, the Teamster leadership held such a meeting with Joe Biden. The procedures for Biden’s visit to the Teamsters headquarters were identical to those for Trump’s visit. You can say that the Teamsters shouldn’t endorse any capitalist candidates and I’d agree with you, but you can’t say that Trump got preferential treatment over Biden or any other candidate. The facts simply don’t support that position.

Two, the meeting with Trump was not a love fest. Quite the contrary, a sharp argument took place when the Teamsters attacked Trump’s racist immigration policies. Sean O’Brien made clear his opposition to Trump’s campaign against migrant workers.

Three, what about the $45,000 RNC donation? It should be explained that the IBT made a simultaneous donation of the exact same amount to the Democratic National Committee. “Playing both sides of the aisle”, that is donating to both parties at the same time is an extremely common procedure in American politics. Unions and other institutions have been doing it for decades. Socialists obviously oppose it, but Sean O’Brien hardly invented the idea.

Four, should the union only allow candidates who the leadership likes to participate in its internal pre-endorsement procedures? Would union democracy be enhanced by giving the leadership veto power of who could and couldn’t seek the union’s endorsement? There’s another aspect to this question. It’s no secret that large numbers of IBT members support Trump. Do we wish to have the argument with them center on a charge of suppressing their candidate’s right to address the union? Or do we instead wish to argue with them about why class struggle together with all other sections of the working class is the way to advance their interests—not hating other workers and supporting a rightwing demagogue?

Five, what about O’Brien’s visit to Mar- a-Lago? To understand this visit, we have to look at a broader process taking place in this country today. There is a real possibility that Trump will win the November elections. Forces are therefore trying to position themselves to function under a second Trump administration. We saw this very clearly in Jamie Dimon’s speech at the Davos conference in Switzerland. There Dimon outlined how big business could operate successfully under a Trump administration. Lance Selfa recently outlined on this website how important sections of capital are preparing themselves to influence a possible Trump administration.

Such a positioning is probably the main motivation for O’Brien’s Florida trip. Now it’s not how socialists would prepare for a Trump administration. We would advocate a sharp escalation in strikes, demonstrations, and workers organization as the way to fight a right wing government. But Sean O’Brien’s trip should be seen in its broader political context.

The Teamsters union today

The final point in this article is the most important one. Are the Teamsters a better union with Sean O’Brien and Fred Zuckerman in office than they would be with Steve Vairma and Ron Herrera in office? (Vairma and Herrera were the old guard Hoffa candidates who lost the last IBT election.) The answer is clearly yes. The important gains of the 2023 UPS contract would not have been won under a Vairma administration. Today militant active Teamster locals would be fighting the International leadership, instead of being helped by the International leadership. The union would not be flexing its muscles at the bargaining table and in new organizing with an old guard leadership.

To conclude, socialists have a different approach to the Democrats and Republicans than Sean O’Brien and the Teamster leadership do. However, the O’Brien leadership has not done anything very different than what the rest of the American labor movement does every day of the week. There’s no substance to the charge that they are particularly favoring Donald Trump. The new Teamster leadership continues to confront the employers far more than their opponents would have done.

The Teamsters for a Democratic Union caucus correctly supported the O’Brien slate in the last election. They have played a key role in popularizing workers’ activity and rank and file mobilization in the union. TDU has charted a way forward for Teamsters since it was formed forty-eight years ago. Socialists should vigorously and enthusiastically support its work.