Brothers and Sisters,
At the 2025 TDU Convention (Teamsters for a Democratic Union) you will be asked by leadership to endorse Sean O’Brien to continue as Teamster President. The Teamsters for a Democratic Union endorsement is significant not only in selecting an individual but also in selecting policy and the direction of the union. Any endorsement of any International Officers should be conducted in a one member one vote process.
The undersigned all have long history with TDU and the reform movement. We believe a TDU endorsement of Sean O’Brien violates the basic principles which established and guided TDU for decades. Together we urge TDU members to consider the following few points and ask yourself, is this direction truly aligned with your values? A yes for Sean O’Brien is a yes for:
*Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA’s) used for the first time in UPS negotiations, threatening immediate removal from any bargaining committee for any reports to members. NDA’s cynically make the bargaining committee constitutional amendment passed at the last convention virtually useless. We’ve gone from a “Brownout” to a full-fledged “Blackout.”
*The heavily publicized UPS Agreement, which was claimed to be historic, has not stopped AI or Robotics, or any form of automation. It’s not produced new jobs or the much bragged about Air-Conditioned trucks. Part-timers were again left behind in what turned out to be a mediocre economic package with a big cut in benefit contributions for most Teamsters. More importantly, its done nothing to improve life on the job or stop harassment.
*Spending millions of dollars on public relations firms to “sell” contracts to Teamster members working from breweries to warehouses. Spending additional millions on a well-known union-busting law firm to go after dissidents and retirees.
*Reporting “new member” numbers and PR releases that do not reflect accurate growth or loss information.
We must ask, how can any organization with the word “democratic” in their title endorse a union leader that has allied himself to a want-to-be dictator proving to be the most anti-worker president in history? In the first seven months of his second term, Trump has gone after unions with a vengeance, following the “Project 2025” playbook without comment and often with support from SOB. Here are just a few of the low lights for labor:
*Termination of collective bargaining agreements for more than 700,000 federal workers and eliminating their right to collective bargaining entirely.
*Repeatedly attempting to remove NLRB officials without cause, leaving the agency without a quorum to resolve unfair labor practices.
*Revoking dozens of regulations protecting worker’s safety while cutting the agency that investigates discrimination and wage theft.
*Appointed a Secretary of Labor recommended by SOB that supports “right to work.”
*Backed Musk’s and Amazons lawsuit against the NLRB resulting in a court decision finding the National Labor Relations Act, passed in 1935, unconstitutional. Workers in much of the South have no federal labor law protection.
A Teamsters for a Democratic Union endorsement of Sean O’Brien in this moment would signify approval of the above and much more. It would also mark the betrayal of TDU’s founding principles. We urge the TDU membership to reject any Sean O’Brien endorsement.
Dan La Botz, TDU co-founder, author R&F Rebellion, Trouble Makers Handbook
Mel Packer, TDU co-founder
Tom Leedham, 3x TDU endorsed candidate for Gen. Pres, former IBT VP, Warehouse Director, Local Officer
Tim Sylvester, former TDU endorsed candidate for GST, former Local 804 President and IBT organizer
Dave Robbins, TDU member, former Steward, Organizer, Business Agent
Bob Randall, former TDU endorsed candidate for VP, TDU member, Local Union BA
Bill Zimmerman, former TDU member, Steward, activist, Labor Radio Host, Local President
Joe Allen, former TDU member, author of Teamsterland: Reports on America’s Most Iconic Union
and The Package King A R&F History of UPS
John Palmer, former TDU Steering Committee, current Teamster’s IBT Vice President at Large
Ken Reiman, author Ron Carey and the Teamsters, former Local 804 BA activist and TDU member
Kenneth C. Crowe, author Collision, How the Teamster R&F Took Back the Teamsters, and The Exoneration of Ron Carey
Jim Reynolds, former TDU Steering Com. member and Local 804 Secretary Treasurer
Michael Savwoir, TDU member, former Steering Committee co-chair for 32 years, 42 years road driver UPS
John Zuraw, longtime TDU member, Local 705 activist
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