EXCLUSIVE — Teamsters President Sean O’Brien called President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Department of Labor the “right choice” and offered some praise for Vice President JD Vance.
Trump chose former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) as his Labor Secretary, a pick that got some pushback from conservatives because of her record on labor issues. Still, she was confirmed in a bipartisan 67-32 vote. During an interview with the Washington Examiner, O’Brien praised her tenure as Labor chief.
“She was the only choice that we had under this administration that was actually going to attempt to do stuff for working-class people,” O’Brien said about Trump’s selection.
TEAMSTERS CHIEF BRANDS AMAZON A ‘CORPORATE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME SYNDICATE’
The Teamsters boss said that his office had a personal relationship with President Joe Biden’s Labor secretary, Marty Walsh, which allowed collaboration between the Teamsters and the Department of Labor. He said the same is true with Chavez-DeRemer.
“I would suggest, as far as I’m concerned, she was the right choice, and she’s doing a good job,” O’Brien said. “I mean, she’s out there, I know, meeting with workers — not just with companies — she’s actually meeting with rank-and-file members.”
Chavez-DeRemer faced scrutiny from some Republicans on Capitol Hill over her support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act while in Congress.
The legislation would have enacted sweeping changes to the employment landscape, including adjusting what kinds of workers can be classified as independent contractors. Corporations such as Uber might be compelled to place workers on their payrolls instead of just paying them for the services provided by drivers. Companies that rely on that business model heavily oppose the legislation.
The act would essentially end right-to-work laws, which have been enacted in 27 states and stop unions from requiring that employees pay dues or fees. Employees who benefit from a collective bargaining agreement can be compelled to contribute to the union, according to the PRO Act.
It would also allow the National Labor Relations Board to impose new fines for labor violations and prevent employers from permanently replacing workers who engage in strikes, among other provisions.
Notably, during her confirmation hearing, Chavez-DeRemer said she no longer supported the aspect of the bill that would end right-to-work laws.
“You no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) asked her.
“Yes, sir,” she responded.
In the hearing, she said, “If confirmed, my job will be to implement President Trump’s policy vision, and my guiding principle will be President Trump’s guiding principle: ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions, and, most importantly, the American worker,” Chavez-DeRemer said.
Trump’s pick of Chavez-DeRemer was seen by some as an acknowledgement of the shift in the party toward populism and a new openness to organized labor.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) published an op-ed at the time lauding Chavez-DeRemer as “the realization of Trump’s pro-worker platform.”
O’Brien was also complimentary of Vance, who is one of the most populist members of Trump’s Cabinet and who is seen by many as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
“JD Vance has been working with us in the rail division, and he’s been great,” O’Brien said.
The Teamsters president noted that his union represents the workers who drive trains as well as those who build train tracks and maintain railway infrastructure.
“I would say JD Vance has done a good job on behalf of supporting Teamster issues, most notably in the rail division,” O’Brien added.
When asked about some of the other Republicans, other than Hawley, that the Teamsters work with on Capitol Hill, O’Brien mentioned Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), as well as Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN), Max Miller (R-OH), and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN).
VANCE IN RUNAWAY LEAD FOR 2028 GOP NOMINATION
O’Brien said his group wants to work to collaborate with lawmakers even if there are differences of opinion. He pointed out that he and Mullin, notoriously, almost came to fisticuffs, but have since reconciled.
“So Markwayne Mullon and I almost had a fistfight on the Senate floor,” he said. “But you know what? After getting to know him a little bit … we agree to disagree on a lot of things, but there’s a lot of things we agree on that can be helpful to his constituents, our members.”