Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien addressed the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Monday evening. Invited by former President Donald Trump, O’Brien made history as the first Teamster leader to speak at the RNC.
“It’s an honor to be the first Teamster in our 121-year history to address the Republican National Convention,” O’Brien told the audience, which included Trump, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Tucker Carlson.
O’Brien thanked Trump for inviting him, acknowledging the mixed reactions from both political sides. “Heads exploded on the Right and Left when I was invited to speak,” he said.
“Anti-union groups demanded the President rescind his invitation. The Left called me a traitor. This is precisely why it is so important for me to be here today.”
He highlighted Trump’s resilience following the recent assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. “I think we all can agree, whether people like him or they don’t, in light of what happened to him on Saturday, he has proven to be one tough S.O.B.,” O’Brien stated.
O’Brien also criticized the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accusing it of waging a war against American workers. “We need to call the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtables what they are: They are unions for big business,” he said. “Against these gigantic multinational corporations, an individual has zero power. It is only when Americans band together in democratic unions that we win real improvements on wages, benefits, and working conditions.”
Pointing to United Parcel Service (UPS), O’Brien highlighted the benefits of unionization. “More than 350,000 Teamsters make it run. We work for good middle-class wages, quality health care, and secure pensions. UPS is the most efficient package delivery company in the world,” he said.
O’Brien called for Republicans to support various economic reforms, including meaningful bankruptcy reform and labor law changes. “Today, corporate vultures buy up companies like Yellow Freight with the intent of driving them into bankruptcy and feasting on their remains. The courts leave workers begging for crumbs as third-tier creditors,” he explained.
“Labor law must be reformed. Americans vote for a union but can never get a union contract. Companies fire workers who try to join unions and hide behind toothless laws that are meant to protect working people but are manipulated to benefit corporations. This is economic terrorism. An individual cannot withstand the assault … there are no consequences for the company, only the worker.”
The Teamsters President’s speech underscored a significant shift, highlighting Trump’s willingness to embrace union voices and the importance of protecting American workers from corporate exploitation.
