Teamsters Local 238 Endorses Kamala Harris for 2024 Presidential Election
Local Iowa Teamsters Union Backs Kamala Harris in Presidential Bid
In a significant move, Teamsters Local 238, Iowa’s largest Teamsters union, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday. This decision diverges from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' stance of not endorsing any candidate this election cycle.
Representing roughly 5,000 members across Iowa, Teamsters Local 238 joined other local unions in key battleground states, including Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, in supporting Harris.
Jesse Case, principal officer of Teamsters Local 238, highlighted the union’s historical alignment with the international Teamsters' endorsements but asserted that the choice was clear this time. Case lauded the Biden-Harris administration as "the most pro-union presidential administration since former President Franklin Roosevelt," commending their efforts to ensure better wages, improve working conditions, and protect pensions.
"The administration’s actions to strengthen the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have reaffirmed its commitment to holding corporations accountable and safeguarding the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain," Case stated. He emphasized Harris’s consistent support for union workers and her dedication to rebuilding the middle class.
The union's decision to not endorse former President Donald Trump was influenced by his appointments to the NLRB and his public comments endorsing the firing of workers who threaten to strike. "He's been president before. We know what he's about," Case said. "We know he's got a track record that's anti-worker, and Harris has a track record that's pro-worker."
Additionally, the Teamsters Joint Council 32, which represents over 85,000 active and retired members in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, also endorsed Harris on Wednesday.
Tom Erickson, President of Joint Council 32, praised Harris for her consistent support of labor unions and her efforts to advance policies related to minimum wage, fair wage increases, and improved working conditions. He also noted the support of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris' running mate, who has a long history of advocating for union workers.
Why No Endorsement from the International Teamsters?
Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, explained that after a nearly year-long candidate review process, the union decided not to endorse either Harris or Trump. O'Brien stated that neither candidate made "serious commitments to the union to ensure the interests of working people."
Historically, the international Teamsters union has endorsed the Democratic nominee in every presidential election since 1996, when it did not support either former President Bill Clinton or former Sen. Bob Dole.
Union votes can significantly impact election outcomes. In the 2020 election, 60% of union members voted for President Joe Biden, as per a Harvard study.
Both Harris and Trump have been actively courting union support. Harris's campaign has been engaging with union groups in the Sun Belt, a crucial region for the upcoming election. Trump, on the other hand, has claimed it an honor that the international Teamsters did not endorse Harris. He also received 60% support in a recent national electronic poll of Teamsters members.
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