It seems every four years we hear the phrase "this is the most consequential presidential election in our lifetime". However, I do believe this is actually the most consequential presidential election in my lifetime.

I find it remarkable that so many former Trump staffers and cabinet members, so many former Republican political leaders, conservative US generals who served under Trump, and over 400 presidential historians are supporting Harris because they believe Trump to be a clear and present danger to our country.

It seems forgotten how badly Trump mismanaged the coronavirus pandemic: spreading misinformation, basically doing nothing while assuring us that virus "would simply go away". Over 450,000 Americans died. An American was 40% more likely to have died from Covid-19 than those citizens of other high income countries. For anyone considering voting for Trump, any of the forementioned should make one take heed. But I will keep this as real as possible. If you are a trade unionist &proud Teamster AND fi you value the quality of representation you get from your union, then there is only one clear choice.

By the year 2017, multiemployers pension plans across the US were in crisis, threatening the retirement plans of 1.5 million workers. Reasons for the crisis were largely due to government deregulation, bankrupt industries not meeting their financial obligations, and the 2008 economic crisis. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, created to insure pension benefits, was faced with pension plans owing approximately 66 billion dollars in obligations while holding only 3 billion in revenues. 

The Butch Lewis Act introduced in 2017, proposed to create the Office of Pension Rehabilitation Administration, in order to give low interest loans that would keep plans solvent. The Act was named after the former president of Teamster Local 100 in Cincinnati. It died in committee and when reintroduced in 2019 died again, failing to gain Republican support. Republicans alternatively proposed increasing retirement plan taxes. In 2021, a refashioned Butch Lewis Act was pushed through congress by the Biden/Harris administration. Large grants not requiring repayment were given to failing pension plans, rescuing tens of thousands of active and retired Teamsters.

During Trump's term as President, he appointed Eugene Scalia (son of supreme court justice Antonin Scalia) Secretary of Labor. Scalia had a pro-business, anti-regulation agenda. He opposed regulation mandating worker's protections and repeatedly hindered efforts of workers to secure benefits or defend their rights. The office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) saw Trump reverse much of Obama's workplace protections and reporting requirements. During the COVID-19 crisis, half of OSHA senior positions remained vacant. In regards to the NLRB, Trump rolled back many Obama era protections and made numerous pro-management/anti-worker appointments. Additionally Trump proposed a 26 billion dollar increase (1100% !) to Union premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation and nominated Mitch McConnell's brothers-in- law to be Director of the PBGC.

Lastly, when interviewed by the IBT, Harris said she would veto any National Right to Work Bill that came to her desk, while Trump said he would not veto such a bill. Notably as well, Harris committed to the IBT that she would back the PRO (protecting the right to organize) ACT, a comprehensive bill to protect workers' right to come together for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.

It's unfortunate that the US is not as true a democracy as is Teamsters Local 817, where each person's vote counts equally. The votes of those in the seven battle ground states will weigh more heavily. Nonetheless, l urge each to exercise your right to vote and make your voice heard.

In solidarity,

Thomas J. O'Donnell