Article Summary –
Arizona Teamsters Local 104 endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the presidential election, diverging from the national Teamsters’ neutral stance. The endorsement reflects Harris’s pro-labor record, including her support for the PRO Act and the American Rescue Plan. Despite the endorsement, local members polled favored Trump over Harris.
Arizona Teamsters’ leadership endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for the upcoming presidential election.
After the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) decided against endorsing any candidate, the local executive board supported Harris based on her pro-labor track record, according to Dawn Schumann, political director of Teamsters Local 104.
“Vice President Harris is committed to the PRO Act and strengthening the National Labor Relations Board,” stated the local union. “She prioritizes middle-class interests over corporate gains,” the union emphasized.
Teamsters Local 104, representing over 9,600 Arizona members, made this decision independently as IBT chose not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1996.
IBT endorsed Harris as President Biden’s running mate in 2020 and last backed a Republican candidate in 1988.
“The Teamsters appreciate all candidates who participated in our roundtables,” stated Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “No major candidate made commitments prioritizing working people over Big Business.”
Despite the Arizona board endorsing the Democratic ticket, polling showed Local 104 members favoring Trump over Harris by 54% to 40% after Biden’s withdrawal.
However, Biden led Trump by 54% to 30% among Arizona Teamsters before his exit.
Other Teamster unions in swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania also backed Harris.
Schumann highlighted Harris’s role in passing the American Rescue Plan, which secured pensions and relief for workers. The plan, devoid of Republican support, included the Butch Lewis Act.
The Butch Lewis Act restored pensions for over a million retirees, aiding financially troubled plans.
“Harris’s actions show true character,” Schumann stated, confirming that the union’s endorsement comes without financial or political gain. Members can vote freely, with the union’s decision rooted in labor support history.
While Schumann couldn’t comment on the general union’s non-endorsement, she stressed the importance of local unions guiding members on labor-friendly candidates.
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