How a Massachusetts man made history at the RNC on Monday: What he said
The president of one of the biggest unions in the country just spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Sean O'Brien, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters president and Massachusetts native, made an unprecedented speech at the RNC Monday night – the first time that a Teamsters leader has given a speech at the Republican convention.
The Teamsters are one of the largest labor unions in the United States with 1.3 million members varying from lawyers, sanitation workers, construction workers and health care professionals.
Who is Sean O'Brien?
O'Brien is the general president of the Teamsters and is from Medford, Massachusetts.
According to the Teamsters website, he is a fourth-generation Teamster and joined Local 25 in Charlestown when he was 18 years old, working in the rigging industry as a heavy-equipment driver in the Greater Boston area.
O’Brien was sworn in as the general president on March 22, 2022.
What did O'Brien say at the RNC?
O'Brien played the centrist during his speech Monday night, advocating for a bipartisan coalition to create real change for American workers.
"Today, the Teamsters are here to say that we are not beholden to anyone or any party," O'Brien said.
Commending former President Donald Trump for his toughness in light of his assassination attempt, O'Brien also said Trump is a candidate who is unafraid of novel and vocal criticism.
"It's an honor to be the first Teamster to address the Republican National Convention," the union president said.
O'Brien advocated for labor law reform and corporate welfare reform, saying that Amazon, Uber, Lyft and Walmart do not take responsibility for their workers and resist giving their employees benefits.
"Never forget, American workers own this nation," O'Brien said.
Will O'Brien be at the DNC in August
At the moment, O'Brien's appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August has not been confirmed.
However, according to New York Times reporting earlier this summer, a spokeswoman said O’Brien told officials working on the RNC and the DNC through aides that he would be interested in speaking at their events.
Where does Sean O’Brien work in Massachusetts?
He is a truck driver in Boston. At the end of his speech, he said the people can still find him driving a tractor trailer, delivering equipment for Shaughnessy & Ahern.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com