Teamsters' Black caucus defies leadership with Harris endorsement

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.”

The Teamsters typically don’t endorse until after the both party conventions, but O’Brien’s outreach efforts to Republicans and speaking at their convention in July has upset some members.

O’Brien had harsh words for Trump on Monday in a written response to his interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk in which the former president advocated for firing striking employees.

“Firing workers for organizing, striking, and exercising their rights as Americans is economic terrorism,” the Teamsters' president said.

O'Brien told NBC 10 Boston that, as of Tuesday, he has not received an invitation to speak from the Democrats.

A straw poll taken by the union this summer showed a plurality support for Biden. The Teamsters is surveying its membership for a second time with an online poll.

In Chicago, there will be no shortage of organized labor support for Harris. In addition to the multiple unions that have already endorsed the Democratic nominee, union labor was used to help build and support the convention, according to convention organizers.

"We are building a convention in Chicago that will tell our story to the American people, including the stories of labor and union leaders and workers across America supporting the Harris-Walz ticket and their pro-union record and vision,” said Matt Hill, Senior Director of Communications for the DNC.

Rachael Bade contributed.