Divya Nimmagadda is a student at Harvard Law School.
Yesterday, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters released a statement declining to endorse a candidate in the upcoming presidential election. The press release stated “After reviewing six months of nationwide member polling and wrapping up nearly a year of rank-and-file roundtable interviews with all major candidates for the presidency, the union was left with few commitments on top Teamsters issues from either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris – and found no definitive support among members for either party’s nominee….The union’s extensive member polling showed no majority support for Vice President Harris and no universal support among the membership for President Trump.” An internal, electronic poll showed that 60% of the membership wished to endorse President Trump. Vice President Harris met with Teamsters on Monday in an effort to shore up support. This is the first time the union has refused to issue an endorsement since 1996, and prior to this election, they have backed every Democratic presidential nominee since Bill Clinton.
However, some of the Teamsters regional councils in key swing states – like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada – and the Teamsters National Black Council have announced their support for Vice President Harris. Given that one in every five voters in a swing state is a union worker, both candidates have been courting union support. Over the course of the campaign, the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO, National Education Association and other major unions have announced their support for Vice President Harris.
Earlier this week, the Department of Labor honored nine unions by adding them to the ‘Century of Service Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations.” The recognized unions – American Train Dispatchers Association; Fraternal Order of Police; International Association of Fire Fighters; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees; National Federation of Federal Employees; National Postal Mail Handlers Union; Service Employees International Union; and United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers – collectively represent around three million members, and have been fighting for workers’ rights for more than 100 years. The ceremony was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Acting Labor Secretary Su with a focus on efforts to increase diversity within unions and in workplaces through a “multiracial, multicultural, multilingual, [and] multigenerational movement.”
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April 3
Chicago Teachers Union reaches tentative agreement; SEIU rallies for first amendment protection; Representatives introduce Protect America's Workforce Act.
April 2
Local academic unions face pushback in negotiations
April 1
In today’s news and commentary, Aramark workers at Philly stadiums reach tentative agreement, Crystal Carey is poised to take general counsel at NLRB, President Trump’s nominees for key DOL positions, and the National Treasury Employees Union sues the Trump administration. UNITE HERE Local 274, which represents thousands of food service workers in the Philadelphia region, […]
March 31
Trump signs executive order; Appeals court rules on NLRB firing; Farmworker activist detained by ICE.
March 28
In today’s news and commentary, Wyoming bans non-compete agreements, rideshare drivers demonstrate to recoup stolen wages, and Hollywood trade group names a new president. Starting July 1, employers will no longer be able to force Wyoming employees to sign non-compete agreements. A bill banning the practice passed the Wyoming legislature this past session, with legislators […]
March 27
Florida legislature proposes deregulation of child labor laws, Trump administration cuts international programs that target child labor and human trafficking, and California Federal judge reversed course and ruled that unions representing federal employees can sue the Trump administration over mass firings.