Teamsters President Sean O'Brien rejected Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of his union's decision not to endorse presidential candidates. O'Brien defended his organization's choice and suggested that AOC should focus on her district, which voted Republican in the last election.
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien dismissed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of his union's decision not to endorse presidential candidates, telling her to "focus on her job instead of mine."
Teamsters Boss Brushes Off AOC's Criticism, Urges Her to Focus on Her District's Republican Leanings
In an interview with CNN, O'Brien defended his organization's choice to remain neutral in the presidential race, despite its history of supporting Democratic candidates. He cited a poll showing that a majority of Teamster members favored former President Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2020 election.
"Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before big business," O'Brien said in a statement.
Teamsters Boss Brushes Off AOC's Criticism, Urges Her to Focus on Her District's Republican Leanings
AOC had previously criticized the Teamsters' decision, arguing that it betrayed the union's traditional alliance with Democrats. "Who do they call when we need to make sure that Teamsters' pensions are bailed out, when we need to make sure that they're-that they have a fair shake at the negotiating table?" she said in a video clip. "It was Sean O'Brian calling Democrats out for help."
O'Brien rejected AOC's allegations, claiming that the Teamsters were simply following the wishes of their members. He also criticized AOC for her district's support of Trump in the 2020 election.
Teamsters Boss Brushes Off AOC's Criticism, Urges Her to Focus on Her District's Republican Leanings
"Now, she [AOC] has to remember that there is a clear divide, especially in Teamster members, between the Democrats and the Republicans, and instead of trying to pick a fight with labor leaders who listened to their members and embrace their members' opinions, she should maybe get into her district where it voted far Republican, far-right Republican, and maybe find out what the problem is," O'Brien suggested.
"When I have a problem at a worksite, and there is criticism, I get right in there and find out.""In our polling – New York – her district voted overwhelmingly Republican to support former President Trump, so she may wanna focus on her job instead of mine," he added.
Teamsters Boss Brushes Off AOC's Criticism, Urges Her to Focus on Her District's Republican Leanings
Other Democratic leaders have also criticized the Teamsters' decision, including Rep. Jim McGovern and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. McGovern called Trump the "most anti-labor president we have ever had" and accused him of supporting "rich people" over the working class. Pelosi said the decision was "disappointing" and pointed out that Democrats had saved Teamsters pensions in the Butch Lewis Act.
