Teamsters president Sean O’Brien demands lawmakers end government shutdown
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien joined Vice President J.D. Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Thursday outside the White House to urge lawmakers to end the government shutdown.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien called for an end to the government shutdown Thursday in an emotional speech about its impact on the U.S. aviation industry and working families.
The union leader, flanked by Vice President J.D. Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outside the West Wing of the White House, called on lawmakers, including Senate Democrats, to “end the shutdown” and pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.
O’Brien, who leads the 1.4 million-member International Brotherhood of Truckers, has recently positioned himself as an independent force, challenging both parties.
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Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Truckers, speaks on stage on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The fourth generation Teamster driver is also known for his fighting style. He assumed the presidency of the federation in 2022.
“We took our position three weeks ago,” O’Brien said Thursday. “Pass a clean report, get to the table, and negotiate a deal. Don’t put workers in the middle of a problem. They shouldn’t be there,” he added.
“And we have to think about the families that will be affected. Think about the time you have to tell your son or daughter they can’t play sports because you’re not getting paid. Think about the time you can’t pay your mortgage. Think about the time you can’t pay your tuition.”
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Teamsters President Sean O’Brien speaks at a rally with UPS workers in Charlestown, Massachusetts. (Matthew J. Lee/Boston Globe via Getty Images/Getty Images)
O’Brien’s final point highlighted the need for a “clean CR Act,” a stopgap funding bill that keeps government operations at current levels and could give congress time to reach a long-term budget deal without new partisan contestants.
“Put politics aside, get to the table, negotiate a deal, pass a clean CR now, and then figure out the problems moving forward,” he said. “Let’s not compromise the safety or livelihoods of workers. Pass a clean business slate.”
Trucker leader O’Brien is flanked by Vance and Duffy during the resumption of the government shutdown (Fox News/Fox News)
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Although O’Brien did not endorse President Donald Trump in the 2024 race, he did speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention, the first for the current Truckers president.
He also criticized Democrats for what he called a growing disconnect with working Americans.
“For as long as I’ve been a truck driver, neither party has led efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement on labor reform,” O’Brien told a Senate committee on Oct. 8.
“Democrats have played political football with massive labor reform bills. Republicans have largely reintroduced business-friendly bills that make it harder to form a union.”
O’Brien did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
2025-10-30 21:35:00
