Subject: Sean O’Brien: A Look At The Self-Proclaimed ‘Militant’ Teamsters Leader: LRI INK

June 1, 2023

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Sean O’Brien: A Look At The Self-Proclaimed ‘Militant’ Teamsters Leader

by Kimberly Ricci

In March 2022, the Hoffa era ended for the Teamsters with the entrance of International President Sean O’Brien. Like UAW’s Shawn Fain, he is a claimed reformer, but there’s an even more telling label that O’Brien, a fourth-generation Teamster, affixes to himself at every opportunity: “militant.”


That word, presumably, means to appease the rank-and-file, for the Teamsters fear further membership losses after falling from 1.4 million in 2000 to 1 million in 2021. That loss in dues already led to substantial benefits cuts for pensions, which portends a vicious cycle that isn’t good news for recruitment. 


Nearly two decades ago, O’Brien reportedly increased Local 25’s membership by over 30 percent while president, despite a somewhat checkered tenure for that local. Clearly, he’s hustling to replicate those gains.


You may have also noticed that O’Brien is brash and outspoken, which recently led to these dubious gems:


  • Clashing with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who told O’Brien to “shut your mouth” during a recent Senate hearing. Mullin, who owns a plumbing company, described experiencing Teamsters harassment and noted O’Brien’s nearly $200,000 salary with “tough guy” accusations flying in response.

  • Vowing to “fight like hell” during negotiations with TForce Freight and ABF Freight ahead of summer expiration dates. ABF truckers are already poised to strike

  • Boasting that he’s “not afraid” to strike 340,000 employees and promising to “pulverize” UPS during ongoing contract renewal negotiations while pointing towards his $350 million strike fund.

  • Resolving to “fight every single day” to “organize Amazon.” Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman added that the Teamsters would “kick the sh*t out of” Amazon.


On that last note, O’Brien craves access to Amazon’s 550,000 U.S. warehouse workers. Heck, the Teamsters allegedly took credit for a false victory in which they claimed to unionize Amazon drivers from a third-party delivery firm. Amazon maintains that it already chose to terminate the company’s contract.


O’Brien’s First Priority: High-stakes UPS negotiations are underway amid O’Brien’s threat for an immediate strike, which could crush supply chains if the Teamsters and union don’t reach a deal before the current July 31 expiration date.


The last UPS strike (1997) saw 185,000 Teamsters walk out for 15 days, costing at least $850 million. In 2023, consumers are even more reliant on the company, from dog food to toilet paper to furniture deliveries, amounting to a daily haul of 6% of the U.S. GDP. These current UPS negotiations involve 340,000+ workers.

 

The Teamsters’ core UPS demands include higher overall pay, disbanding the two-tier pay system, moving more part-timers to full-time, and a focus on heat safety. Teamsters claimed early success in regional supplemental negotiations and moved on with national talks despite pledging to hold off until supplemental deals were forged.


Looking towards the future: O’Brien has made multiple key appointments. These include Kaitlyn Long to a trucking industry task force to influence federal policy; Bob Fisher as Airline Division Deputy Director to influence Delta negotiations and to further organize aviation; and Chief Tinseltown Teamster Lindsay Dougherty, who has a Jimmy Hoffa tattoo and joined with O’Brien to express the solidarity with WGA striking writers. 


O’Brien is a fourth-generation Teamster, and if there’s one common thread through his recent actions, that would be his proclaimed eagerness to strike. Stay tuned to see whether the Teamsters throw good-faith bargaining out the window and head to the picket lines.


Breaking News: Supreme Court Rules Employers Can Sue Employees For Misconduct During Strikes

by Phil Wilson

The Supreme Court issued a decision today in Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174, stating that unions cannot intentionally destroy employer property without consequences. The Court held that the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not preempt state tort law, allowing companies to seek damages for the intentional destruction of their property even during labor disputes. 


In this case, the Union executed a strike in a manner that endangered Glacier's property and compromised the safety of their trucks and concrete. As the Union did not take reasonable precautions to mitigate the risk, SCOTUS ruled that the NLRA does not protect their conduct. The 8-1 decision remands the case back to the Washington Supreme Court for reconsideration.


This decision clarifies that unions can be held liable for the intentional destruction of employer property during labor disputes, providing companies with a legal remedy for such actions. It also reinforces the idea that while unions have the right to strike and engage in collective bargaining, they must do so without compromising the safety and property of the employer. This decision may have implications for future cases involving labor unions and their conduct during strikes.

Links

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Union Bailout

 

NLRB General Counsel Seeks Quicker Compliance With Board Orders

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NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo Issues New Suggested Manual Election Protocols

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Noncompete Agreements Violate U.S. Labor Law, Official Says 

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Are Revenue Generating NCAA Student-Athletes Employees? California NLRB Office Says YES.

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NLRB General Counsel Urges Patience Amid Caseload, Staffing Woes

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Union And Wabtec Remain Far Apart On Wage Issues As Contract Talks Enter Final Phase

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NLRB Files Complaint Against Amazon CEO For Free Speech

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Organizing

 

Barboncino Workers Are Forming New York City's First Unionized Stand-Alone Pizzeria

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Employees At Manhattan (Chelsea) Starbucks Trying To Dismantle Union

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NLRB Official Tosses Petition To Oust Union at Buffalo Starbucks 

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Starbucks Sanctions Order In Wisconsin Case Gets NLRB Approval 

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NLRB Asks 3d Circuit To Enforce Rehire Orders At Philly Starbucks

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Workers At Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Win Union Election

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Amazon Shareholders Vote Against Union Rights, Climate Proposals

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Two Louisville Service Industry Unions Seek Contracts Amid Conflict With Employers

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UFCW 3000 Launches Essential Workers Organizing Academy (Union Website)

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Join An Established Union Or Start A New One? These Are The Differences

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Nick Saban Wants College Football To Be More Like The NFL: 'Unionize It'

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Healthcare

 

Connecticut Group Home, Day Program Workers Strike Indefinitely For Better Pay

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Unionized Health Care Workers Protest At Lamont's Hartford House

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UCSF Children's Hospital Workers Authorize 2nd Strike

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Mayo Clinic Surgical Workers Petition: Unsafe Working Conditions May Be 'Downright Greed'

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Healthcare Workers Picket At EvergreenHealth Monroe

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Union: Strike Averted At Lifelong Medical Clinics

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Media/Tech/AI

 

White House Takes New Steps To Study AI Risks, Determine Impact On Workers

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Multi-Union Rally Brings Hundreds To Downtown LA As WGA Work Stoppage Closes Out Its 4th Week

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Predawn Picket Lines Help Writers Disrupt Studio Productions 

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Striking Writers Hold Rally And Dance Party In Downtown LA

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Nation's Largest Nurses Union Stands In Solidarity With Writers

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ChatGPT Gender Bias: How It Affects HR & Tips To Avoid Pitfalls

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Insights From American Workers: A Comprehensive Survey On AI In The Workplace

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Walkout Signals Broader RTO Tensions, Layoff Anxieties Among Tech Workers

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UAW

 

Webasto Workers Vote To Join UAW 

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Potential For Strike Looks Over Upcoming UAW Contract Talks

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Closure Of Milwaukee Master Lock Plant Exposes Dead End Of UAW's Nationalist 'Insourcing' Strategy

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UAW Strike Enters Fourth Week At Plant Owned By Glendale-Based Clarios

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UAW President: Auto Supplier Strikes An 'Inspiration' To Rest Of Union

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UAW President Shawn Fain On Clarios Strike: Empty Phrases And Outright Lies

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What Our Strike Is About: An Open Letter From The Clarios Workers Rank-and-File Committee

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UAW's Fain Blames 'Greed' For 'Unfair' Trade Policies That Hurt Workers

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'Fight Of A Generation': UAW President Talks Big 3 Negotiations 

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Teamsters

 

Teamsters Halt Waymo In San Francisco

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Car Haulers Remain Locked Out At A CSX Railhead Facility 

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Teamsters Approve Strike At ABF Freight If Needed

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Minnesota Teamsters Celebrate Passage Of Pro-Worker Omnibus Legislation

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About Labor Relations INK

Labor Relations INK is published weekly and is edited by Labor Relations Institute, Inc. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to anyone you think might enjoy it. New subscribers can sign up by visiting here.


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Contributing editors for this issue: Phillip Wilson, Greg Kittinger, Michael VanDervort, and Kimberly Ricci 


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About Labor Relations Institute

LRI exists to help our clients thrive and become extraordinary workplaces. We improve the lives of working people by strengthening relationships with their leaders and each other. For over 41 years LRI has led the labor and employee relations industry, driven by our core values and our proven process, the LRI Way.

 

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