June 23, 2025 • 36 mins
Sean O’Brien, the General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters joined Dan to discuss the Teamsters organization, his relationship with President Trump and his Administration, the speech he delivered at the RNC, which was a rare move for the union to do, and their decision not to officially endorse a presidential candidate.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Well, I'm delighted to be joined by the head of
the president, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
He's a greater Boston native, Sean O'Brien. Sean wanted to
have you on the show many times. Thanks so much
for joining us tonight. I'm sort of an an interesting
last few days here. We were supposed to have you
(00:30):
join us last week, but the verdict and the Karen
Reid trial put our plans on hold. But welcome to Nightside,
my friend. How are you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm doing great, Thank you very much, And you know
I didn't take a personal that I got bumped for
these verdicts. A couple of weeks of therapy, I'll be
back on the road.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Oh yeah, I'm sure. Speaking about on the road, you've
been president of the Teamsters now for how many years?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I've been the general president Teamster's just over three years.
I was a president of Local twenty five in Boston
for about I want to say, sixteen or seventeen years,
and I've been in the local for almost thirty five years,
so particularly.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The last three years as the top guy Nashly. I
got to assume you put some mileage on your frequent
flyer miles.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, we are pretty active. You know. Under our administration,
the one thing that we wanted to do is be
present for the most important people that we represent, and
that's a one point three million rank and file members nationwide.
And you know, oftentimes, you know, it'd be easy just
to sit in my office in Washington, DC, but you
can't get anything done, and you're just better off out
(01:44):
in the field talking to workers, getting true testimonials, and
actually witness trials and tribulations that they endure in the workforce.
And that makes us better leaders because we can actually
see and understand what our members go through. You know,
we're a very diverse international union where we don't have
all our eggs in one basket. We just don't represent
one group. We represent everybody from airline pilots to zookeepers
(02:07):
and everybody in between. We've evolved from a strictly truck
and union from forty to fifty years ago to a
very diverse union that represents a lot of diverse industries.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, it was interested how that because I used to
think of the teamsters were the truck drivers, the people
that made the country run, the people that delivered everything
that you needed, whether it was at the grocery store
or a clothing store, at a hardware store, sporting goods store.
How did you end up? I found out today that
you also represent police unions around the country.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, we represent I mean, look, trucking was the backbone
of the Teams To's Union. I mean, we've been around
since nineteen oh three, and we started out as horse
and buggy carriage and then we've evolved obviously through technology
combustible engines to tractor trails and you know, we did
we still do. I mean, we are involved in every
(03:02):
single mode of transportation that provides goods and services to
this country. But you know, trucking deregulation in the nineteen eighties,
when trucking was deregulated, you know, we lost one hundred
thousand members in trucking. So we could have done one
of two things. We could easily just babysit. The organization
are not grown and thankfully the lead is prior to
(03:25):
us had visions to organize on our unorganized workers at
the time in non traditional industries and it's paid dividends.
I mean, we're one point three million members, so in
trucking is still a big part of our major employers.
Nited Apostles Service, DHL, Budweiser, we distribute liquor, pickup rubbish,
We fix airplanes, where airplane pilots. We represent a huge
(03:49):
public sector, motion pictures, trade shows. So I apologize any
of my members if I missed the industries we represent
food delivery, So we're pretty diverse.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Now why was it that? Again, deregulation was was a
big effort during the Reagae administration in a lot of areas.
But why did it cost your membership for a freshman recollection,
I I don't understand why that would have cost you.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yeah, in nineteen eighty that was legislation that was put
forth by Ted Kennedy, co sponsored by another another Republican,
So it was a democratic initiative that was a bipartisan
bill that the trucking industry is regulated, so union union
companies and trucking companies had to charge the same rates throughout.
And once the deregulation hit, it was a race to
(04:36):
the bottom. You've had you had a lot of owner
operation that came in and we lost four hundred thousand
jobs in the trucking industry and that was bad legislation,
and unfortunately, a lot of good companies went, I went,
We're forced into bankruptcy, a lot of people lost their jobs.
So some pretty tough times, not just in the Team
(04:57):
Cite union, but you know, yeah, the air traffic controller issue,
replace that is we actually endorsed President Reagan back then,
and you know that's why, you know, I have an
opinion on supporting politicians that are going to actually do
what they say they're going to do, and if they don't,
then we need to hold them accountable. So that was
(05:17):
pretty much the demise of the trucking industry and that's
what caused it.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So at this point, you've lost members. So there are
more truckers out on the road who are driving as
pure independence and they're not they're not represented by the
team Sir I didn't love.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, well we lost, we lost a significant portion. In
the eighties, we were able to organize other trucking companies
that weren't covered under the National Master Fred Agreement, which
National Master Fred Agreement covered four hundred thousand UH trucking companies.
It was a multi employer national contract. We still have
a presence. We've got ABF you see those trucks. We've
(05:56):
got Key Force with which used to be UPS Freight,
and we've got some other regional carries that are still unionized,
so we still hold some density in the trucking and
look Ups is the largest, our largest employer. It's the
largest private sector collector bogging agreement of country that covers
three hundred and forty thousand full time and part time
(06:18):
workers and represents a six or seven percent of commerce
in this country.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So this was interesting. I do remember that Ted Kennedy
was a big proponent of deregulation, deregulation of the airlines transportation,
and I don't know that that worked out well for
the airlines. Obviously didn't work out well for the truck industry.
And it's interesting that was Reagan the first Republican that
the Dames teams should have Did you endorse him both times?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
In I believe Nixon as well. It could be wrong
in that one that I'm in nineteen seventy two, you know,
but I believe we. I'm sure someone will fact checked
out for me.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's that's okay. Well, you stayed out of it in
twenty twenty four, but you did address the Republican National
Convention and there was no invitation similar invitation for the Democrats.
And I think that that your actions played a big
role in the teams just played a big role in
the results of this election. When we get back, I
(07:16):
want to talk about that, how tough a decision that was.
And I'd also like to get a sense as to
how satisfied you are with the administration that you didn't
endorse them, but you didn't endorse the other side, which
is which I think probably hurt the Democrats more than
they would probably like to like to acknowledge. My guest
(07:39):
is Sean O'Brien. He's the president of a teamster's union.
You were born in Charlestown, grew up in.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Medford, right, Sean, No, I was actually my mother and
father from Charlestown. Okay, I was actually born in Maldon,
the hospital which doesn't exist anymore, and then I grew
up in Medford. But you know, I don't claim Maldon
as my home base. That's a huge rival and we'll
get to that, I'm sure at some point, but.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Right, No, No, we wouldn't want to do that. You
were a Mustang. It's the Midford.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Musters, not a Golden Tornado. But one of my best friends.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Was gotcha, Well, that's okay. You know it's either in
the Civil War there were people friends who are on
both sides. We'll take a break. My guest is Sean
O'Brien catching up a little bit of the history of
the Teamster's Union. Very important group of voters in this country,
one point three million members. But in addition, obviously the
family members of those three the one point three million
(08:32):
membership that represents millions of people directly or indirectly. We'll
take a quick break. Coming right back on Knight's side
with Sean O'Brien, Medford native, but we could say Greater
Boston and a guy who's made a huge impact nationally
on politics and on union representation, which I think is
(08:54):
very important. I've been a union member since nineteen seventy four.
After and now after and screen actress and after, we'll
be back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Right after this, It's Nightside with Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Sean. Last summer at the Republican convention, you were you
had a big decision to make. You were invited by
the Republicans as I understand that not invited by the
Democrats to speak at the national Convention, and you spoke
prime time at the Republican National Convention. How tough a
(09:30):
decision was that. And I'm just curious if your membership,
and I know you said that your membership was inclined
towards Trump by about sixty to forty, but I'm sure
there were some members, some die heard Democrats who were
not happy.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah, I mean, look, that was a great opportunity to
speak at the Republican National Convention. I mean, think about
the first time member in the history that a team
suits general president got to speak at the Republican National Convention.
It wasn't a speech if you listen to it, it
wasn't a speech that was leaning Republican, Democrat or independent.
(10:07):
It was a speech that was highlighting how valuable the
American worker is and how for so long we've been
taken for granted for And it was a it was
a great opportunity. Number one, it was extremely controversial because
it's never been done before. And think about this. We
were prime time Monday night at ten o'clock twenty two
(10:30):
million viewers. So not only was it a great opportunity.
It was tremendous pressure, but it was the right thing
to do because you know, the one thing that we've
pried ourselves on as a leadership team, and I've got
a great team in Washington, d C my number two
person for Zuckerman. When we were fighting to get back
into putting this union back into the hands of the
(10:51):
rank and file numbers, the one thing that we needed
to do is focus on solving problems, not creating, and
finding a means to ye and that help holds true today,
especially in politics, where you know, because you're a Democrat
or Republican doesn't mean you can't collaborate. So we thought
it was a great opportunity to showcase the fact that
we're open minded and we're willing to work with anybody
(11:15):
that wants to listen and help be part of the solution,
not create problems. So it was a great opportunity. Uh yeah,
You're always gonna have critics no matter what you do.
I mean, I could call I could cure cancer tomorrow
or the team stas un you could and people are
going to find fault on why we did it. So
with that said, you just got to do it in
the best interest of the organization and uh, you know,
(11:37):
not listen to the nation.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yeah, you'd be criticized for putting doctors and nurses out
of business or something like that.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
And and I think that it's very smart for a
union as big and as strong and as influential as
the Teamsters, or for any union UH, to to get
the best deal for their membership. That's what you're job is.
I think that there are a lot of political groups
in this country who have fallen in line between one
party or the other, uh, and their votes get taken
(12:09):
for granted. Never allow people to take you or your
your influence and your membership and your votes for granted.
And it sounds to me as if the Democrats, and
I don't want to put you on the spot here,
but they didn't even invite you, they didn't give you.
You could have made that speech at the Democratic convention too. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I'll tell you that I would have made that same
speech at the Democratic National Convention, and would I would
have embraced being there because it would have actually it
would have gave the Democrat credibility as well, not what
they did by shunning us and not having us, especially
with the largest transportation Union in the probably in the world.
(12:50):
It showed that they weren't the Democratic Party that we
grew up with, where the Democratic Party was for working people.
The Democratic Party embracedent opinions. The Democratic Party was focused
on doing what was in the best interest of the constituency.
You know, don't forget that over the last twenty years,
sixteen of those years the Democrats held power. And I'm
(13:12):
a Democrat, not going to run from it. But you know,
the reality of it is, when we're investing in these Democrats,
Republicans or independents, we want to get a return on
the investments. We don't want to take for granted, you know,
our money and our support. And far too long we've
been told what we want to hear, and we've expressed
(13:34):
what our concerns are in our direction that we want
to go in, and the attitude is like, well, we
already have you, you'll be there, you've got nowhere else
to go, and you've got to do. We say, well,
that's not how this operates anymore, and that's not how
we're going to operate as a union. We're going to
make decisions to support the people that are in the
(13:54):
best interest of making decisions that are going to benefit
our members and working families, and that's what we Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Well, one of the things that I think President Trump
has done. I believe that these statistics are accurate. He
had more Black voters, more Hispanic voters than any Republican
in recent memory. And as a matter of fact, I
understand that Donald Trump in Massachusetts, the bluest of the
(14:23):
Blue states, actually carried the city of fall River, the
first time that a Republican presidential candidate carried the city
of fall River with she is a working class city
in one hundred years. So I think you were kind
of ahead of the curve here. I don't know if
you're familiar with that, but someone told me that, and
I happen to believe their credibility. It's been one hundred
(14:46):
years since a Republican carried the city of fall River
and go.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I mean, look, there's no doubt that in Massachusetts were
a very blue state, but there were in roads aid
where it went more Republican than it has in the past.
I wasn't aware of the statistic in fall River. But
you also have to look at you know, the d
n C and their lack of vision to put up
(15:14):
a candidate that was going to be formidable. I mean
when you think about you know, Joe Biden, who was
a very nice man. You know, he did he did
a lot for working people, uh to a certain extent.
And then you know, everybody wants to tell you about
the victories that they, you know, put forth for you,
and that's great, but they don't want to disclose some
of the struggles and some of the issues they didn't
(15:36):
help us on. But you know, President Biden, uh, when
he ran, he said he was going to be a
trade uh transitional president, which you know, some of the
roomors in d C and I live in d C
part part of the time. Uh, you get some credible
information saying that, you know, there was a meeting where,
you know, he did some good work in the first
two years, let's announce that, you know, you're going to
(15:58):
be a transitional president, and let's develop that next candidate,
which didn't happen. And then the debate disaster, which I
felt awful for him, I truly did, because there's no
reason why he should have been put in that position.
And you know, Kamala Harris wasn't a good candidate. I
mean we met with every single candidate that ran. We
(16:19):
brought him in for the first time into our union,
into our building in DC. We had rank and file
members there on our General Executive Board, and you know,
every single candidate got an opportunity. We asked sixteen questions
of each candidate. And when it came down to the
last three, when I say the last three, President Biden,
(16:40):
former President Trump, and Vice President Harris, you know, it
was clear that the Democrats weren't going to win this election.
And we did a significant amount of polling, which we've
never done before. We polled one point three million of
our members with a QR code. We did scientific based
polling utilizing the Biden Irish posters that they used at
(17:01):
the time, so everything was trending in the same direction.
It was sixty five percent Republican, like thirty three percent Democrat,
and then you know the two percent independent or other.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Sure, well, did did Harris? Did one of Vice President
Harris ever take the time to talk with you? You
know after she became the nominee. I mean obviously.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Everybody did she did, Okay?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
They she came into building and she talked with the members,
with the leadership and the membership she came in.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
To talk to the leadership with rank and file members. President,
and like I said, every candidate had the same sixteen questions,
you know most candidates. Most candidates answered all sixteen. Of
course they didn't answer them the way we wanted to.
I mean, it's never gonna happen that way. President Trump
answered all sixteen. President Biden, when he came in, answered
(17:54):
six And then when she got the nod that she
was going to be the candidate, it was pulling teeth
number one to get her in her Her people were
very difficult to deal with, and then they wanted to negotiate.
And how many questions she was actually going to ask?
How she was answer? How many were we going to ask? Yeah,
and when we were we came to like we were
(18:15):
going to ask five questions. When I finished the fourth question,
there was forty five minutes. Twenty minutes left out of
the forty five minute period where a note got slit
in front of me from my chief of staff that said,
this will be the last question because what she wanted
to do was talk and just talked. And her closing
statement she said, and this is well documented, and there
(18:35):
were a lot of witnesses there, she looked at us,
or looked at me, and she was like she was
put out that she had to come in and ask
for our vote. And she looked at it and said,
we are going to win this election with you or
without you. And right then and there, you know, I knew,
I knew they were going to lose.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Yeah. Boy, you kin'd have that attitude, You kin'd have
that editude. My guest is Sean O'Brien, phone calls, I
wou'd like to join the conversation and ask a question,
make a comment. A very influential individual and again Boston,
greater Boston guy Medford grew up in Medford and has
(19:13):
gone to the heights of union leadership in this country.
I think he has been handled the situation brilliantly for
his membership, and I know that he has some pretty
good access to President Trump. And it also happens I
want to find out how you feel the President has
handled this situation over the weekend, which tonight seems to
(19:33):
be breaking very much in a favorable way. My guest,
Sean O'Brien, president of the Teams Disunion, joined the conversation
six one, seven, two, five, four to ten thirty or six, one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty. Back on Night's Side right after the news
at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
My guess is Sean O'Brien. He's the president of the
teams Just Union. One point three million members in this union.
The future of unions in America. You are you optimistic?
My sense is that unions are making a comeback. Love
to know what you think.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Yeah, there's no doubt. I mean, unions are definitely making
a comeback. I think for a few reasons. One, I
think you know unions, and I can speak for the
Team Stage union. Through the pandemic, union workers provided goods
and services to this country and probably the most difficult
times ever, and we actually were deemed the central workers.
(20:37):
So number one, this country doesn't move without good union workers. Two,
we've got this new generation that have an appetite to
stand up for their rights. They have an appetite to
not be taken advantage of by their bosses. And we've
seen significant growth in union density US alone, the Team's Union,
(20:59):
we're all going to I have eighty thousand new members
in three years. But what's most important it's not the
numbers of the growth, but it's the respect that we're
getting from the general public. I mean, I think the
last statistic there was like a seventy two percent favorability
in the nation, a bipartisan favorability of UNI's workforce. So
(21:24):
you know, there's no doubting whether you're in the building trades,
the work it's done on time, on budget, and look,
the value of people being able to have a voice
and demand what they're worth. I think you're going to
see continued growth. I think some of the positions, like
the team's Union has taken as far as not demonizing
(21:47):
one person because they're part of one political party versus
the other. I think that gives tremendous credibility. And look,
people are a lot more sophisticated on the issues that
affect them when they were working, and no one wants
to be taken advantage of anymore. So I'm very excited
about the future of the labor movement. I'm very excited
(22:08):
about some of the opportunities that may be presented with
these tariffs. You know, they'll bring some industry back into
the United States, which create good middle class jobs. The
stale industry the auto industry, and there's a lot of
indirect benefits that will come as a result of those
industries coming back. So answer your question. I absolutely think
(22:31):
we're on the apprise.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And you and you members are the backbone of the country.
They are also people who are contributing to the tax space.
Let's get your phone calls, Sean, they got a pack
lines here. I've talked to you too long. Your interests
have been great, and I'm fascinated by your success. Here.
Let's go to Tom in Marshfield. Tom, you were first tonight
with Sean O'Brien, president of the team suit you and
(22:54):
you go ahead, Tom, appreciate your patienceting Dan. Hey, good eating. Tom,
go right ahead.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
I'm a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
All right, there's a lot of applause there from my
digital studio audience. Right ahead, Tom.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
No, let me say I've listened to your program for
a long long time.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
I say, with our reservation, you had, without question, the
most credible talk show in America today.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
That's high praise that.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
No, and uh, you know we we we have a history.
I won't get into tonight. I've respected your views, the
integrity you've shown over the years is without question, I.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Appreciate all of that, but I want you to talk
to my guests, because this is a guy has a
lot of integrity as well.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Tom, I don't know. No, listen, I'm getting to that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
I don't mean, okay, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
I think his address before the Iron c was one
of the most historic speeches I've heard in many, many years.
He had the courage to go into a very awkward
situation and address the country what he believed was best
for America. I think he stayed his position very clearly.
(24:23):
I'm not indebted to any one political party. I'm here
representing the working people in America, and he did it
in an incredible fashion. He's such an charismatic speaker, and
I think that he speaks from the hot and you
(24:44):
know the position he's in today representing the teamsters. He's
excelled at to the em degree. He speaks what's best
for America, and I slewed him.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
For that, Sean. Not a bad way to start off
with the caller, Sean, it's all going to be downhill
from here.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
But go ahead, No, it sounds like he said exactly
how I wrote something. You know, but you know the
reality of it is. Speaking at the irn C was difficult.
I want to highlight one thing going through the process.
There was a lot of preparation preparing that speech, and
my team and I we worked on her for about
four weeks and you have to submit that speech before
the r n C, not so much anybody else. And
(25:24):
the rn C folks wanted me to change that speech.
They wanted me to edit it. They didn't want me
to say certain things, they didn't want to address certain issues.
And I said, absolutely not, I'm not going to do that.
I won't speak. So what happened was I ended up
calling Susie Wilds, who was a campaign manager at the time,
and she said to me, look, Sean, we don't have
a problem. Whatever you want to say. We haven't seen
(25:44):
a speech. You say whatever you want, but can you
do me a favorite. Can you call DJT and just
tell him what's going on. So I call him up
on his cell phone and I said, look, all due respect,
I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I am not
going to change my speech because this is not this
is who I am, this is who we represent, and
this is who we're going to talk about. He said, look,
(26:05):
I don't care what you say. And he used a
couple of curse words, and he said, you say whatever
the f you want, I'm good with it. And that
was it. That's the fact, not bad, not bad.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
And by the way, I'm sure you know that Susie
Wilde is the daughter of a great football announcer and
football player. For that you and I grew up watching
the New York Football Giants Pat Summer.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Absolutely, that's where she gets her toughness from.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I think you're right on that. Hey, Tom and Marshfield,
you've been so kind to me and to my guest.
I hope you're going to become a regular caller.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Well more importantly, I'm a regular listener Dan.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
Thanks Tom, and I.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Don't use the word lately. Your integrity speaks for itself.
No matter how difficult the situation is, You're you're respectful
to your caller. Is I think you advocate what's best
for this country, which I love that about your show.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Well, we'll keep it up, we'll keep it up. Please
tell me.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
I just look at I look at mister O'Brien what
he's done, and I'm sure that that was it was
nothing sort of courageous to put himself in that national
limelight speaking of the iron c and I agree.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
With you totally, which is one of the reasons I
was so anxious to have him on my program. And
I'm very appreciative of the fact that you take the
time to call in and please don't just.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
One last thing. I just it's so refreshing, you know,
especially in the light in the last few days, what's
going on with the decision by the president. And I'm
not always waving the flag for his decisions, but the
very difficulty decision he's made in the last few days
to protect this country, and it disturbs me to hear
(27:57):
the liberal left govern Macky aoc Warren immediately come out
and criticize the president for that decision, no mention of
the courageous acts about military to do what they felt
had to do to ensure our safety. And I think
(28:21):
that that Sean, and again he's excelled beyond being the
leader of the teams as nationally, he has become a
bright star in this country and hopefully the country will
benefit from here because of Sean O'Brien.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
I'm sure will Tom. Thanks very much, by the way,
we will be talking after ten o'clock about the president's
decision of the weekend and the fallout, both immediate and
what appears to be developing tonight. Tom in Marshfield, hope
we talk again. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Nice solute you.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Dan, thank you, thank you very much, appreciate it. Very
quick break. I got a couple more phone calls here
than we could imagine. We're going to keep going, Sean,
and I'm going to get to the callers right after this,
really quick break. Coming back on night Side with Shawn O'Brien,
the president of the Teamsters Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Back after this.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on wz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
A lot of people have been waiting a long time here,
but I'm going to try to get as many folks
in as I can. Quick question or comment for Sean.
Going to start off with Dan in the North End.
Dan loved that first name. You're on with Sean O'Brien.
Speaker 7 (29:34):
Are right ahead, Hi, Dan, So right ahead.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Hi.
Speaker 7 (29:41):
My family's from the north The excuse me. We had
a restaurant on Hannia Street called the Bluefront, which is
was before all these restaurants came down, and I always
remember Local twenty five. The team says, coming into the
restaurant afternoon for lunch, they'd line up on the street
(30:03):
with their cors and trucks, and they were great customers
of my family. My restaurant had my grandmother in the kitchen.
My aunts is a waiter, and my father is a bottender.
So that family tradition and those people coming into that
restaurant meant the laws to me. But my question, and
by the way, then we're classmates at Boston State.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
My questions gone.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
I live in a multi unit building at an off
end and we get constant deliveries from the Amazon drivers,
and I've gotten frontly with them, and I'm puzzled as
to why they haven't been unionized yet. And it's very
disturbing knowing that these guys work hard and they're not
(30:50):
getting the union wags to that they justus are, especially
living in the city of Boston, are in the Greater
Boston area with the cost of living.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
We represent UPS and myself and our team negotiated thirty
billion dollars settlement. Now drivers are the highest paid in
the industry, fifty dollars an hour at the end of
this contract full help and welfare, full pension, and Amazon
hide their direct employees. Amazon hides behind a scam of
a third party leasing arrangement where most of those drivers
(31:22):
you see are ten ninety nine employees. Ten ninety nine employees.
Their independent contract is not employees, I should say. And
we actually just want a big case out in California
where we prove that they are actually employees of Amazon.
It's a scam. We are on top of it. Our
goals to organize those workers. There's four hundred thousand of them,
(31:46):
the only direct employees of part timers, but we are
on them. We are constantly re struck Amazon. In December
twenty two thousand people that signed Todds to join the union.
So we are on them and our goal is to
make sure that they are teamsters at the end of
the day. And there is an appetite uh for this group.
(32:09):
But you know, Amazon thinks that they're in the United
States of Amazon. They think they control everything and nothing
but a white call a crime syndicate that focuses on
distressed neighborhoods and focus on immigrant immigrant workers uh and
extort them. But we are on top of it. We
have committed hundreds upon millions of dollars to organize them,
(32:30):
and uh, we are going to do it, there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
All right. Appreciate the call, Dan, and once a warrior,
always a warrior. Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Family business and we appreciate it all right.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Thanks Dan, Talk to you soon. Rocco in East Boston. Roco,
next on, nice Sean O'Brien, go right ahead, Rocco.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Heay, how you doing.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Sean, Dan, thanks for having me on tonight. On You're
welcome the first the first call was excellent and I
don't think you could have articulated any better.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Sean.
Speaker 6 (33:06):
You want you went before the r n C if
you did an excellent job, very courageous and uh my
guess my question is is there ever a situation that
arises where you see yourself running for running for office
(33:27):
in the government. I know you probably you know you
probably love what you do when you're passionate about the
teams is and and well paid. But if you have
a do you have a feel that you could be
called to serve? Because honest to God, I think you
could do it. I think you could do a great job,
and I think you could represent I think you can
represent where can people.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Let's get a quick answer here because we're getting a
little tight on time. Good question, Rockaway. I think position right.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Now, Rockaway. I appreciate the support.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
I was ever going to do that.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Look, I want to be I want to be corporate
America and the politician's conscience. I have no appetite for
running for public office. My family's been through a lot
of scrutiny over the last forty to fifty years, and
you know, put them through a lot, but we've accomplished
a lot on behalf of working people. That's my passion,
(34:24):
that's my focus, and I'd rather be a kingmaker than
a king.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
All Right, great question, Roco. Appreciate it, Thank you much.
I'm going to try to get one more in here.
Good if I can. Patrick, you've been hanging in here.
I'm just going to give you about a minute. I
hate to do this to you. You got Sean O'Brien,
go ahead, Patrick, Well, you know.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
I'm a good plison when it comes to do it.
And miss brian On behalf of the friends and co
workers that I have with United Partial Service here in
the Washington, D C.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Metropolitan area.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Thank you, and hello and happy Independence Day, and thank
you for your reference. I have to say hello to
you on behalf of my friends because they are great
workers and they really keep things moving. And I like
the Teamsters and they are they they're definitely union, sir,
and they represent what a union is and the American
(35:17):
union worker is not going on the endangered species list.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Sir Patrick. Great. Great final comment, Sean, You've started strong
and you got very strong right at the end here
as well. Say hi to Patrick and then we'll let
him go and we'll wrap it up with you. Go ahead, Sean.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Well, Patrick, I appreciate the kind words, but I don't
like the teams that I love. The Teamsters and the
Thankses have given me everything in my entire life for generations.
They're an organization that never waived on the commitment, whether
there were good times at bad times. And hopefully we
can leave this organization better than we found it for
that next generation. So thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Patrick, appreciate your calling so much. Heat job, Sean O'Brien,
Thanks so much for coming into being available tonight. Love
to check in with you a little bit later on
you during the year and see how things are going.
Let's hope that things in around this weekend are breaking
the way in which they appear to be breaking tonight.
Let's hope it keeps going in that direction. I'm sure
(36:18):
you joined me in that thought.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Absolutely. Thank you very much and I truly appreciate.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
You, sir well righte that catch you, Sean. Trust me, okay,
believe me. You got a big fan here on Nightside.
My name is Dan Ray. Feel free to give us
a call as we head to the ten o'clock news
if you want to stay there. We're going to talk
about Iran, Israel and the President's decision this weekend. Give
us a call, stay right with us. Here comes the
(36:44):
News
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Well, I'm delighted to be joined by the head of
the president, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
He's a greater Boston native, Sean O'Brien. Sean wanted to
have you on the show many times. Thanks so much
for joining us tonight. I'm sort of an an interesting
last few days here. We were supposed to have you
(00:30):
join us last week, but the verdict and the Karen
Reid trial put our plans on hold. But welcome to Nightside,
my friend. How are you tonight.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I'm doing great, Thank you very much, And you know
I didn't take a personal that I got bumped for
these verdicts. A couple of weeks of therapy, I'll be
back on the road.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Oh yeah, I'm sure. Speaking about on the road, you've
been president of the Teamsters now for how many years?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I've been the general president Teamster's just over three years.
I was a president of Local twenty five in Boston
for about I want to say, sixteen or seventeen years,
and I've been in the local for almost thirty five years,
so particularly.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
The last three years as the top guy Nashly. I
got to assume you put some mileage on your frequent
flyer miles.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, we are pretty active. You know. Under our administration,
the one thing that we wanted to do is be
present for the most important people that we represent, and
that's a one point three million rank and file members nationwide.
And you know, oftentimes, you know, it'd be easy just
to sit in my office in Washington, DC, but you
can't get anything done, and you're just better off out
(01:44):
in the field talking to workers, getting true testimonials, and
actually witness trials and tribulations that they endure in the workforce.
And that makes us better leaders because we can actually
see and understand what our members go through. You know,
we're a very diverse international union where we don't have
all our eggs in one basket. We just don't represent
one group. We represent everybody from airline pilots to zookeepers
(02:07):
and everybody in between. We've evolved from a strictly truck
and union from forty to fifty years ago to a
very diverse union that represents a lot of diverse industries.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, it was interested how that because I used to
think of the teamsters were the truck drivers, the people
that made the country run, the people that delivered everything
that you needed, whether it was at the grocery store
or a clothing store, at a hardware store, sporting goods store.
How did you end up? I found out today that
you also represent police unions around the country.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, we represent I mean, look, trucking was the backbone
of the Teams To's Union. I mean, we've been around
since nineteen oh three, and we started out as horse
and buggy carriage and then we've evolved obviously through technology
combustible engines to tractor trails and you know, we did
we still do. I mean, we are involved in every
(03:02):
single mode of transportation that provides goods and services to
this country. But you know, trucking deregulation in the nineteen eighties,
when trucking was deregulated, you know, we lost one hundred
thousand members in trucking. So we could have done one
of two things. We could easily just babysit. The organization
are not grown and thankfully the lead is prior to
(03:25):
us had visions to organize on our unorganized workers at
the time in non traditional industries and it's paid dividends.
I mean, we're one point three million members, so in
trucking is still a big part of our major employers.
Nited Apostles Service, DHL, Budweiser, we distribute liquor, pickup rubbish,
We fix airplanes, where airplane pilots. We represent a huge
(03:49):
public sector, motion pictures, trade shows. So I apologize any
of my members if I missed the industries we represent
food delivery, So we're pretty diverse.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Now why was it that? Again, deregulation was was a
big effort during the Reagae administration in a lot of areas.
But why did it cost your membership for a freshman recollection,
I I don't understand why that would have cost you.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yeah, in nineteen eighty that was legislation that was put
forth by Ted Kennedy, co sponsored by another another Republican,
So it was a democratic initiative that was a bipartisan
bill that the trucking industry is regulated, so union union
companies and trucking companies had to charge the same rates throughout.
And once the deregulation hit, it was a race to
(04:36):
the bottom. You've had you had a lot of owner
operation that came in and we lost four hundred thousand
jobs in the trucking industry and that was bad legislation,
and unfortunately, a lot of good companies went, I went,
We're forced into bankruptcy, a lot of people lost their jobs.
So some pretty tough times, not just in the Team
(04:57):
Cite union, but you know, yeah, the air traffic controller issue,
replace that is we actually endorsed President Reagan back then,
and you know that's why, you know, I have an
opinion on supporting politicians that are going to actually do
what they say they're going to do, and if they don't,
then we need to hold them accountable. So that was
(05:17):
pretty much the demise of the trucking industry and that's
what caused it.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So at this point, you've lost members. So there are
more truckers out on the road who are driving as
pure independence and they're not they're not represented by the
team Sir I didn't love.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yeah, well we lost, we lost a significant portion. In
the eighties, we were able to organize other trucking companies
that weren't covered under the National Master Fred Agreement, which
National Master Fred Agreement covered four hundred thousand UH trucking companies.
It was a multi employer national contract. We still have
a presence. We've got ABF you see those trucks. We've
(05:56):
got Key Force with which used to be UPS Freight,
and we've got some other regional carries that are still unionized,
so we still hold some density in the trucking and
look Ups is the largest, our largest employer. It's the
largest private sector collector bogging agreement of country that covers
three hundred and forty thousand full time and part time
(06:18):
workers and represents a six or seven percent of commerce
in this country.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So this was interesting. I do remember that Ted Kennedy
was a big proponent of deregulation, deregulation of the airlines transportation,
and I don't know that that worked out well for
the airlines. Obviously didn't work out well for the truck industry.
And it's interesting that was Reagan the first Republican that
the Dames teams should have Did you endorse him both times?
Speaker 3 (06:44):
In I believe Nixon as well. It could be wrong
in that one that I'm in nineteen seventy two, you know,
but I believe we. I'm sure someone will fact checked
out for me.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's that's okay. Well, you stayed out of it in
twenty twenty four, but you did address the Republican National
Convention and there was no invitation similar invitation for the Democrats.
And I think that that your actions played a big
role in the teams just played a big role in
the results of this election. When we get back, I
(07:16):
want to talk about that, how tough a decision that was.
And I'd also like to get a sense as to
how satisfied you are with the administration that you didn't
endorse them, but you didn't endorse the other side, which
is which I think probably hurt the Democrats more than
they would probably like to like to acknowledge. My guest
(07:39):
is Sean O'Brien. He's the president of a teamster's union.
You were born in Charlestown, grew up in.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Medford, right, Sean, No, I was actually my mother and
father from Charlestown. Okay, I was actually born in Maldon,
the hospital which doesn't exist anymore, and then I grew
up in Medford. But you know, I don't claim Maldon
as my home base. That's a huge rival and we'll
get to that, I'm sure at some point, but.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Right, No, No, we wouldn't want to do that. You
were a Mustang. It's the Midford.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Musters, not a Golden Tornado. But one of my best friends.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Was gotcha, Well, that's okay. You know it's either in
the Civil War there were people friends who are on
both sides. We'll take a break. My guest is Sean
O'Brien catching up a little bit of the history of
the Teamster's Union. Very important group of voters in this country,
one point three million members. But in addition, obviously the
family members of those three the one point three million
(08:32):
membership that represents millions of people directly or indirectly. We'll
take a quick break. Coming right back on Knight's side
with Sean O'Brien, Medford native, but we could say Greater
Boston and a guy who's made a huge impact nationally
on politics and on union representation, which I think is
(08:54):
very important. I've been a union member since nineteen seventy four.
After and now after and screen actress and after, we'll
be back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Right after this, It's Nightside with Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Sean. Last summer at the Republican convention, you were you
had a big decision to make. You were invited by
the Republicans as I understand that not invited by the
Democrats to speak at the national Convention, and you spoke
prime time at the Republican National Convention. How tough a
(09:30):
decision was that. And I'm just curious if your membership,
and I know you said that your membership was inclined
towards Trump by about sixty to forty, but I'm sure
there were some members, some die heard Democrats who were
not happy.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Yeah, I mean, look, that was a great opportunity to
speak at the Republican National Convention. I mean, think about
the first time member in the history that a team
suits general president got to speak at the Republican National Convention.
It wasn't a speech if you listen to it, it
wasn't a speech that was leaning Republican, Democrat or independent.
(10:07):
It was a speech that was highlighting how valuable the
American worker is and how for so long we've been
taken for granted for And it was a it was
a great opportunity. Number one, it was extremely controversial because
it's never been done before. And think about this. We
were prime time Monday night at ten o'clock twenty two
(10:30):
million viewers. So not only was it a great opportunity.
It was tremendous pressure, but it was the right thing
to do because you know, the one thing that we've
pried ourselves on as a leadership team, and I've got
a great team in Washington, d C my number two
person for Zuckerman. When we were fighting to get back
into putting this union back into the hands of the
(10:51):
rank and file numbers, the one thing that we needed
to do is focus on solving problems, not creating, and
finding a means to ye and that help holds true today,
especially in politics, where you know, because you're a Democrat
or Republican doesn't mean you can't collaborate. So we thought
it was a great opportunity to showcase the fact that
we're open minded and we're willing to work with anybody
(11:15):
that wants to listen and help be part of the solution,
not create problems. So it was a great opportunity. Uh yeah,
You're always gonna have critics no matter what you do.
I mean, I could call I could cure cancer tomorrow
or the team stas un you could and people are
going to find fault on why we did it. So
with that said, you just got to do it in
the best interest of the organization and uh, you know,
(11:37):
not listen to the nation.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Yeah, you'd be criticized for putting doctors and nurses out
of business or something like that.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
And and I think that it's very smart for a
union as big and as strong and as influential as
the Teamsters, or for any union UH, to to get
the best deal for their membership. That's what you're job is.
I think that there are a lot of political groups
in this country who have fallen in line between one
party or the other, uh, and their votes get taken
(12:09):
for granted. Never allow people to take you or your
your influence and your membership and your votes for granted.
And it sounds to me as if the Democrats, and
I don't want to put you on the spot here,
but they didn't even invite you, they didn't give you.
You could have made that speech at the Democratic convention too. Well.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
I'll tell you that I would have made that same
speech at the Democratic National Convention, and would I would
have embraced being there because it would have actually it
would have gave the Democrat credibility as well, not what
they did by shunning us and not having us, especially
with the largest transportation Union in the probably in the world.
(12:50):
It showed that they weren't the Democratic Party that we
grew up with, where the Democratic Party was for working people.
The Democratic Party embracedent opinions. The Democratic Party was focused
on doing what was in the best interest of the constituency.
You know, don't forget that over the last twenty years,
sixteen of those years the Democrats held power. And I'm
(13:12):
a Democrat, not going to run from it. But you know,
the reality of it is, when we're investing in these Democrats,
Republicans or independents, we want to get a return on
the investments. We don't want to take for granted, you know,
our money and our support. And far too long we've
been told what we want to hear, and we've expressed
(13:34):
what our concerns are in our direction that we want
to go in, and the attitude is like, well, we
already have you, you'll be there, you've got nowhere else
to go, and you've got to do. We say, well,
that's not how this operates anymore, and that's not how
we're going to operate as a union. We're going to
make decisions to support the people that are in the
(13:54):
best interest of making decisions that are going to benefit
our members and working families, and that's what we Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Well, one of the things that I think President Trump
has done. I believe that these statistics are accurate. He
had more Black voters, more Hispanic voters than any Republican
in recent memory. And as a matter of fact, I
understand that Donald Trump in Massachusetts, the bluest of the
(14:23):
Blue states, actually carried the city of fall River, the
first time that a Republican presidential candidate carried the city
of fall River with she is a working class city
in one hundred years. So I think you were kind
of ahead of the curve here. I don't know if
you're familiar with that, but someone told me that, and
I happen to believe their credibility. It's been one hundred
(14:46):
years since a Republican carried the city of fall River
and go.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I mean, look, there's no doubt that in Massachusetts were
a very blue state, but there were in roads aid
where it went more Republican than it has in the past.
I wasn't aware of the statistic in fall River. But
you also have to look at you know, the d
n C and their lack of vision to put up
(15:14):
a candidate that was going to be formidable. I mean
when you think about you know, Joe Biden, who was
a very nice man. You know, he did he did
a lot for working people, uh to a certain extent.
And then you know, everybody wants to tell you about
the victories that they, you know, put forth for you,
and that's great, but they don't want to disclose some
of the struggles and some of the issues they didn't
(15:36):
help us on. But you know, President Biden, uh, when
he ran, he said he was going to be a
trade uh transitional president, which you know, some of the
roomors in d C and I live in d C
part part of the time. Uh, you get some credible
information saying that, you know, there was a meeting where,
you know, he did some good work in the first
two years, let's announce that, you know, you're going to
(15:58):
be a transitional president, and let's develop that next candidate,
which didn't happen. And then the debate disaster, which I
felt awful for him, I truly did, because there's no
reason why he should have been put in that position.
And you know, Kamala Harris wasn't a good candidate. I
mean we met with every single candidate that ran. We
(16:19):
brought him in for the first time into our union,
into our building in DC. We had rank and file
members there on our General Executive Board, and you know,
every single candidate got an opportunity. We asked sixteen questions
of each candidate. And when it came down to the
last three, when I say the last three, President Biden,
(16:40):
former President Trump, and Vice President Harris, you know, it
was clear that the Democrats weren't going to win this election.
And we did a significant amount of polling, which we've
never done before. We polled one point three million of
our members with a QR code. We did scientific based
polling utilizing the Biden Irish posters that they used at
(17:01):
the time, so everything was trending in the same direction.
It was sixty five percent Republican, like thirty three percent Democrat,
and then you know the two percent independent or other.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Sure, well, did did Harris? Did one of Vice President
Harris ever take the time to talk with you? You
know after she became the nominee. I mean obviously.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Everybody did she did, Okay?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
They she came into building and she talked with the members,
with the leadership and the membership she came in.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
To talk to the leadership with rank and file members. President,
and like I said, every candidate had the same sixteen questions,
you know most candidates. Most candidates answered all sixteen. Of
course they didn't answer them the way we wanted to.
I mean, it's never gonna happen that way. President Trump
answered all sixteen. President Biden, when he came in, answered
(17:54):
six And then when she got the nod that she
was going to be the candidate, it was pulling teeth
number one to get her in her Her people were
very difficult to deal with, and then they wanted to negotiate.
And how many questions she was actually going to ask?
How she was answer? How many were we going to ask? Yeah,
and when we were we came to like we were
(18:15):
going to ask five questions. When I finished the fourth question,
there was forty five minutes. Twenty minutes left out of
the forty five minute period where a note got slit
in front of me from my chief of staff that said,
this will be the last question because what she wanted
to do was talk and just talked. And her closing
statement she said, and this is well documented, and there
(18:35):
were a lot of witnesses there, she looked at us,
or looked at me, and she was like she was
put out that she had to come in and ask
for our vote. And she looked at it and said,
we are going to win this election with you or
without you. And right then and there, you know, I knew,
I knew they were going to lose.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Yeah. Boy, you kin'd have that attitude, You kin'd have
that editude. My guest is Sean O'Brien, phone calls, I
wou'd like to join the conversation and ask a question,
make a comment. A very influential individual and again Boston,
greater Boston guy Medford grew up in Medford and has
(19:13):
gone to the heights of union leadership in this country.
I think he has been handled the situation brilliantly for
his membership, and I know that he has some pretty
good access to President Trump. And it also happens I
want to find out how you feel the President has
handled this situation over the weekend, which tonight seems to
(19:33):
be breaking very much in a favorable way. My guest,
Sean O'Brien, president of the Teams Disunion, joined the conversation
six one, seven, two, five, four to ten thirty or six, one, seven, nine, three, one,
ten thirty. Back on Night's Side right after the news
at the bottom of the hour.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
My guess is Sean O'Brien. He's the president of the
teams Just Union. One point three million members in this union.
The future of unions in America. You are you optimistic?
My sense is that unions are making a comeback. Love
to know what you think.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Yeah, there's no doubt. I mean, unions are definitely making
a comeback. I think for a few reasons. One, I
think you know unions, and I can speak for the
Team Stage union. Through the pandemic, union workers provided goods
and services to this country and probably the most difficult
times ever, and we actually were deemed the central workers.
(20:37):
So number one, this country doesn't move without good union workers. Two,
we've got this new generation that have an appetite to
stand up for their rights. They have an appetite to
not be taken advantage of by their bosses. And we've
seen significant growth in union density US alone, the Team's Union,
(20:59):
we're all going to I have eighty thousand new members
in three years. But what's most important it's not the
numbers of the growth, but it's the respect that we're
getting from the general public. I mean, I think the
last statistic there was like a seventy two percent favorability
in the nation, a bipartisan favorability of UNI's workforce. So
(21:24):
you know, there's no doubting whether you're in the building trades,
the work it's done on time, on budget, and look,
the value of people being able to have a voice
and demand what they're worth. I think you're going to
see continued growth. I think some of the positions, like
the team's Union has taken as far as not demonizing
(21:47):
one person because they're part of one political party versus
the other. I think that gives tremendous credibility. And look,
people are a lot more sophisticated on the issues that
affect them when they were working, and no one wants
to be taken advantage of anymore. So I'm very excited
about the future of the labor movement. I'm very excited
(22:08):
about some of the opportunities that may be presented with
these tariffs. You know, they'll bring some industry back into
the United States, which create good middle class jobs. The
stale industry the auto industry, and there's a lot of
indirect benefits that will come as a result of those
industries coming back. So answer your question. I absolutely think
(22:31):
we're on the apprise.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
And you and you members are the backbone of the country.
They are also people who are contributing to the tax space.
Let's get your phone calls, Sean, they got a pack
lines here. I've talked to you too long. Your interests
have been great, and I'm fascinated by your success. Here.
Let's go to Tom in Marshfield. Tom, you were first tonight
with Sean O'Brien, president of the team suit you and
(22:54):
you go ahead, Tom, appreciate your patienceting Dan. Hey, good eating. Tom,
go right ahead.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
I'm a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
All right, there's a lot of applause there from my
digital studio audience. Right ahead, Tom.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
No, let me say I've listened to your program for
a long long time.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (23:15):
I say, with our reservation, you had, without question, the
most credible talk show in America today.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
That's high praise that.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
No, and uh, you know we we we have a history.
I won't get into tonight. I've respected your views, the
integrity you've shown over the years is without question, I.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Appreciate all of that, but I want you to talk
to my guests, because this is a guy has a
lot of integrity as well.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
Tom, I don't know. No, listen, I'm getting to that.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
I don't mean, okay, go ahead.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
I think his address before the Iron c was one
of the most historic speeches I've heard in many, many years.
He had the courage to go into a very awkward
situation and address the country what he believed was best
for America. I think he stayed his position very clearly.
(24:23):
I'm not indebted to any one political party. I'm here
representing the working people in America, and he did it
in an incredible fashion. He's such an charismatic speaker, and
I think that he speaks from the hot and you
(24:44):
know the position he's in today representing the teamsters. He's
excelled at to the em degree. He speaks what's best
for America, and I slewed him.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
For that, Sean. Not a bad way to start off
with the caller, Sean, it's all going to be downhill
from here.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
But go ahead, No, it sounds like he said exactly
how I wrote something. You know, but you know the
reality of it is. Speaking at the irn C was difficult.
I want to highlight one thing going through the process.
There was a lot of preparation preparing that speech, and
my team and I we worked on her for about
four weeks and you have to submit that speech before
the r n C, not so much anybody else. And
(25:24):
the rn C folks wanted me to change that speech.
They wanted me to edit it. They didn't want me
to say certain things, they didn't want to address certain issues.
And I said, absolutely not, I'm not going to do that.
I won't speak. So what happened was I ended up
calling Susie Wilds, who was a campaign manager at the time,
and she said to me, look, Sean, we don't have
a problem. Whatever you want to say. We haven't seen
(25:44):
a speech. You say whatever you want, but can you
do me a favorite. Can you call DJT and just
tell him what's going on. So I call him up
on his cell phone and I said, look, all due respect,
I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I am not
going to change my speech because this is not this
is who I am, this is who we represent, and
this is who we're going to talk about. He said, look,
(26:05):
I don't care what you say. And he used a
couple of curse words, and he said, you say whatever
the f you want, I'm good with it. And that
was it. That's the fact, not bad, not bad.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
And by the way, I'm sure you know that Susie
Wilde is the daughter of a great football announcer and
football player. For that you and I grew up watching
the New York Football Giants Pat Summer.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Absolutely, that's where she gets her toughness from.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
I think you're right on that. Hey, Tom and Marshfield,
you've been so kind to me and to my guest.
I hope you're going to become a regular caller.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
Well more importantly, I'm a regular listener Dan.
Speaker 6 (26:46):
Thanks Tom, and I.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Don't use the word lately. Your integrity speaks for itself.
No matter how difficult the situation is, You're you're respectful
to your caller. Is I think you advocate what's best
for this country, which I love that about your show.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Well, we'll keep it up, we'll keep it up. Please
tell me.
Speaker 5 (27:10):
I just look at I look at mister O'Brien what
he's done, and I'm sure that that was it was
nothing sort of courageous to put himself in that national
limelight speaking of the iron c and I agree.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
With you totally, which is one of the reasons I
was so anxious to have him on my program. And
I'm very appreciative of the fact that you take the
time to call in and please don't just.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
One last thing. I just it's so refreshing, you know,
especially in the light in the last few days, what's
going on with the decision by the president. And I'm
not always waving the flag for his decisions, but the
very difficulty decision he's made in the last few days
to protect this country, and it disturbs me to hear
(27:57):
the liberal left govern Macky aoc Warren immediately come out
and criticize the president for that decision, no mention of
the courageous acts about military to do what they felt
had to do to ensure our safety. And I think
(28:21):
that that Sean, and again he's excelled beyond being the
leader of the teams as nationally, he has become a
bright star in this country and hopefully the country will
benefit from here because of Sean O'Brien.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
I'm sure will Tom. Thanks very much, by the way,
we will be talking after ten o'clock about the president's
decision of the weekend and the fallout, both immediate and
what appears to be developing tonight. Tom in Marshfield, hope
we talk again. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
Nice solute you.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Dan, thank you, thank you very much, appreciate it. Very
quick break. I got a couple more phone calls here
than we could imagine. We're going to keep going, Sean,
and I'm going to get to the callers right after this,
really quick break. Coming back on night Side with Shawn O'Brien,
the president of the Teamsters Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Back after this.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on wz Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
A lot of people have been waiting a long time here,
but I'm going to try to get as many folks
in as I can. Quick question or comment for Sean.
Going to start off with Dan in the North End.
Dan loved that first name. You're on with Sean O'Brien.
Speaker 7 (29:34):
Are right ahead, Hi, Dan, So right ahead.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Hi.
Speaker 7 (29:41):
My family's from the north The excuse me. We had
a restaurant on Hannia Street called the Bluefront, which is
was before all these restaurants came down, and I always
remember Local twenty five. The team says, coming into the
restaurant afternoon for lunch, they'd line up on the street
(30:03):
with their cors and trucks, and they were great customers
of my family. My restaurant had my grandmother in the kitchen.
My aunts is a waiter, and my father is a bottender.
So that family tradition and those people coming into that
restaurant meant the laws to me. But my question, and
by the way, then we're classmates at Boston State.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
My questions gone.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
I live in a multi unit building at an off
end and we get constant deliveries from the Amazon drivers,
and I've gotten frontly with them, and I'm puzzled as
to why they haven't been unionized yet. And it's very
disturbing knowing that these guys work hard and they're not
(30:50):
getting the union wags to that they justus are, especially
living in the city of Boston, are in the Greater
Boston area with the cost of living.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
We represent UPS and myself and our team negotiated thirty
billion dollars settlement. Now drivers are the highest paid in
the industry, fifty dollars an hour at the end of
this contract full help and welfare, full pension, and Amazon
hide their direct employees. Amazon hides behind a scam of
a third party leasing arrangement where most of those drivers
(31:22):
you see are ten ninety nine employees. Ten ninety nine employees.
Their independent contract is not employees, I should say. And
we actually just want a big case out in California
where we prove that they are actually employees of Amazon.
It's a scam. We are on top of it. Our
goals to organize those workers. There's four hundred thousand of them,
(31:46):
the only direct employees of part timers, but we are
on them. We are constantly re struck Amazon. In December
twenty two thousand people that signed Todds to join the union.
So we are on them and our goal is to
make sure that they are teamsters at the end of
the day. And there is an appetite uh for this group.
(32:09):
But you know, Amazon thinks that they're in the United
States of Amazon. They think they control everything and nothing
but a white call a crime syndicate that focuses on
distressed neighborhoods and focus on immigrant immigrant workers uh and
extort them. But we are on top of it. We
have committed hundreds upon millions of dollars to organize them,
(32:30):
and uh, we are going to do it, there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
All right. Appreciate the call, Dan, and once a warrior,
always a warrior. Thanks, thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Family business and we appreciate it all right.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Thanks Dan, Talk to you soon. Rocco in East Boston. Roco,
next on, nice Sean O'Brien, go right ahead, Rocco.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Heay, how you doing.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Sean, Dan, thanks for having me on tonight. On You're
welcome the first the first call was excellent and I
don't think you could have articulated any better.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
Sean.
Speaker 6 (33:06):
You want you went before the r n C if
you did an excellent job, very courageous and uh my
guess my question is is there ever a situation that
arises where you see yourself running for running for office
(33:27):
in the government. I know you probably you know you
probably love what you do when you're passionate about the
teams is and and well paid. But if you have
a do you have a feel that you could be
called to serve? Because honest to God, I think you
could do it. I think you could do a great job,
and I think you could represent I think you can
represent where can people.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Let's get a quick answer here because we're getting a
little tight on time. Good question, Rockaway. I think position right.
Speaker 3 (33:57):
Now, Rockaway. I appreciate the support.
Speaker 5 (34:00):
I was ever going to do that.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Look, I want to be I want to be corporate
America and the politician's conscience. I have no appetite for
running for public office. My family's been through a lot
of scrutiny over the last forty to fifty years, and
you know, put them through a lot, but we've accomplished
a lot on behalf of working people. That's my passion,
(34:24):
that's my focus, and I'd rather be a kingmaker than
a king.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
All Right, great question, Roco. Appreciate it, Thank you much.
I'm going to try to get one more in here.
Good if I can. Patrick, you've been hanging in here.
I'm just going to give you about a minute. I
hate to do this to you. You got Sean O'Brien,
go ahead, Patrick, Well, you know.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
I'm a good plison when it comes to do it.
And miss brian On behalf of the friends and co
workers that I have with United Partial Service here in
the Washington, D C.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Metropolitan area.
Speaker 4 (34:56):
Thank you, and hello and happy Independence Day, and thank
you for your reference. I have to say hello to
you on behalf of my friends because they are great
workers and they really keep things moving. And I like
the Teamsters and they are they they're definitely union, sir,
and they represent what a union is and the American
(35:17):
union worker is not going on the endangered species list.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Sir Patrick. Great. Great final comment, Sean, You've started strong
and you got very strong right at the end here
as well. Say hi to Patrick and then we'll let
him go and we'll wrap it up with you. Go ahead, Sean.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
Well, Patrick, I appreciate the kind words, but I don't
like the teams that I love. The Teamsters and the
Thankses have given me everything in my entire life for generations.
They're an organization that never waived on the commitment, whether
there were good times at bad times. And hopefully we
can leave this organization better than we found it for
that next generation. So thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Patrick, appreciate your calling so much. Heat job, Sean O'Brien,
Thanks so much for coming into being available tonight. Love
to check in with you a little bit later on
you during the year and see how things are going.
Let's hope that things in around this weekend are breaking
the way in which they appear to be breaking tonight.
Let's hope it keeps going in that direction. I'm sure
(36:18):
you joined me in that thought.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Absolutely. Thank you very much and I truly appreciate.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
You, sir well righte that catch you, Sean. Trust me, okay,
believe me. You got a big fan here on Nightside.
My name is Dan Ray. Feel free to give us
a call as we head to the ten o'clock news
if you want to stay there. We're going to talk
about Iran, Israel and the President's decision this weekend. Give
us a call, stay right with us. Here comes the
(36:44):
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