Teamsters' Black caucus defies leadership with Harris endorsement [View all]
Source: Politico
08/13/2024 06:50 PM EDT
Vice President Kamala Harris has won the endorsement of the National Black Caucus of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters — even as the larger union withholds its endorsement. Caucus members voted unanimously Tuesday to endorse Harris at a conference in Las Vegas. Publicly backing Harris risks pushback in a union with a history of retaliation.
The caucus, known as TNBC, praised Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for their “unwavering commitment to workers and their families” in a statement released after the vote. “Their records reflect a deep dedication to advancing labor rights and supporting working-class Americans,” it said. Labor organizations rushed to support Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. But the Teamsters have been a notable hold out.
President Sean O’Brien said the union plans to endorse a presidential candidate after both conventions and has invited all the candidates to sit for interviews. Harris, who was invited last month when she became the presidential candidate, has not yet had her interview.
TNBC Chair James Curbeam said in the statement that the caucus based its decision on former President Donald Trump’s actions over both his career in politics and business. “When people show you who they are, believe them and Trump showed us for 40 years who he really is: someone who is not for us,” Curbeam said. “Endorsing a candidate with his history would be a betrayal of the values that we have fought to uphold.”
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/13/teamsters-black-caucus-harris-endorsement-00173911
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