The Teamsters’ political arm is donating $45,000 to the Republican National Committee – as part of what union officials say is a push to ensure that elected officials in both political parties hear from rank-and-file workers at this year’s presidential nominating conventions.
In a filing this week with federal regulators, the Teamsters’ PAC reported making the contribution in late January to the RNC’s convention fund.
Union spokesperson Kara Deniz said the check was issued in January and will soon be sent to the RNC. The union reported making a similar $45,000 convention-related donation in December to the Democratic National Committee.
The Teamsters represent an estimated 1.3 million workers – nearly a third of them employed by UPS.
The RNC contribution immediately garnered attention in Washington since the union typically directs its political funds to Democrats, and it comes as Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has sought to appeal to union workers in his bid to reclaim the White House.
But Deniz said the union has not yet made an endorsement in the 2024 presidential contest.
“It’s not since 2000 that our union has participated in both conventions,” she said in an email. “In the Teamsters, all our members’ voices will be heard, regardless of party. Rank-and-file members will be on the ground and active in both conventions this year to make sure elected officials know the Teamsters’ issues and are hearing the challenges that working people face in this country.”
Trump met with Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida earlier this year and with union leaders and members at the organization’s Washington, DC, headquarters on January 31.
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