Teamsters prez clashes with Senator
An old-school Boston brawl took center stage during a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, as Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien engaged in a heated battle with Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin about unions, their salaries and union members’ dues.
“You’re out of line, man,” said O’Brien at one point in the exchange in the hallowed Senate hearing room.
O’Brien — a fourth generation Teamster who joined Teamsters Local 25 in Charlestown when he was 18 — blasted the Oklahoma senator and claimed that he worked more hours than the GOP politician. Mullin told O’Brien to “shut your mouth” at one point.
During the tense exchange, O’Brien charged that Mullin had “hid money” when he owned a company. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ended up banging his gavel numerous times during the backand-forth.
O’Brien was testifying at a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The committee hearing — “Defending the Right of Workers to Organize Unions Free from Illegal Corporate UnionBusting” — was initiated by Sanders, in response to what they say has been unlawful anti-union activity at Starbucks, Amazon, and other corporations.
The Oklahoma senator went after O’Brien during his time at the mic. Mullin started by saying he’s not against unions and then launched a series of criticism related to his past experience with a pipefitters union.
Mullin said his plumbing company had grown from six employees to more than 300. His company was winning jobs that were previously union jobs, he said.
“The union pipefitters decided they were going to come after us,” the senator said, claiming they would show up at his house and lean against his trucks. “I’m not afraid of a physical confrontation. In fact, sometimes I look forward to it.”
Mullin said his employees’ salaries were higher and they had better benefits than the union workers, and added that they weren’t “requiring them to pay your guys’ exorbitant salaries.”
“What do you make, Mr. O’Brien?” Mullin asked.
O’Brien said, “I’m glad you asked that question…” before the senator cut him off.
“I know what you make because in 2019, your salary was $193,000,” Mullin said.
The senator then claimed that the average UPS driver makes $35,000 a year.
“That’s inaccurate. That’s inaccurate,” O’Brien said. “State facts, state facts. That’s inaccurate.”
Mullin asked O’Brien what job has he created, “other than sucking the paycheck out of somebody else… you’re forcing them to pay dues.”
That lit a fire in O’Brien, who responded, “We don’t force anybody. You’re out of line, man.”
Mullin shot back, “Don’t tell me I’m out of line… Sir, you need to shut your mouth because you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
O’Brien returned, “You’re gonna tell me to shut my mouth? ‘I’m a tough guy, I’m not afraid of physical…’ “
Mullin repeated, “Don’t sit there and tell me I’m out line.”
The exchange prompted Sanders to start banging the gavel to settle down the clamor.
Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan tweeted after the exchange, “Pro tip for the junior Senator from Oklahoma: Don’t f*** with a union guy from Massachusetts.”